The Asia-Europe Young Leaders Symposium

1. Objectives of the Symposium

The Asia-Europe Young Leaders Symposium (AEYLS) is a forum where active young leaders on the front line in various fields from Asia and Europe discuss freely and openly ways to build a new Asia-Europe cooperation for the 21st century.

This symposium was proposed by the former Prime Minister of Japan, Ryutaro Hashimoto and the former Prime Minister of the Republic of Austria, Franz Vranitzky, at the first Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in March 1996 in Bangkok, as a measure to support the ASEM, whose objective is to strengthen the ties between Asia and Europe. The participants of the AEYLS are expected to form a new type of human network through the Symposium.

This program is also called "Mini-Davos Meeting" as it is modeled on the well-known "Davos Meeting," which is an annual meeting held by the World Economic Forum in Switzerland to bring together prominent leaders in every field from around the world.

2. Date/Venue/Qualification

Each year, the AEYLS is sponsored by one of the ASEM member countries. Therefore, the date, venue, participants' qualifications are decided by the host country of the year.

3. AEYLS I~VII

(1) AEYLS I

Sponsor: Japan and the ASEF (Asia-Europe Foundation)
Date: March 10 - 14, 1997
Venue: Tokyo and Miyazaki
General Theme: In Search of a New Asia-Europe Cooperation for the 21st Century
Participants: approximately 120 young leaders

(2) AEYLS II

Sponsor: Austria
Date: May 25 - 28, 1998
Venue: Vicinity of Vienna
General Theme: Europe and Asia; Approaches, Visions and Strategies for the Future
Participants: Approximately 100 young leaders

(3) AEYLS III

Sponsor: Korea
Date: May 24 - 28, 1999
Venue: Seoul and Kangwon Province
General Theme: Asia and Europe: Preparing for the Challenges and Opportunities of the New Millennium, where the spirit of cooperation among future promising young leaders from ASEM member countries will continue to live on.
Participants: Approximately 110 young leaders

(4) AEYLS IV

Sponsor: Ireland
Date: June 12-16, 2000
Venue: Limerick (University of Limerick)
General Theme: Challenges and Opportunities for Asian / European Partnership in the 21st Century
Participants: four participants from each of the 25 ASEM countries and the EU Commission

(5) AEYLS V

Sponsor: Malaysia (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Asia-Europe Foundation, Asia-Europe Institute
Date: October 8-12, 2001
Venue: Kuala Lumpur
General Theme: Strengthening Asia-Europe Co-operation in the New Millennium
Participants: Approximately 100 young leaders

(6) AEYLS VI

Sponsor: Germany (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Asia-Europe Foundation, German Council on Foreign Relations
Date: June 23-28, 2002
Venue: Berlin
General Theme: Common Challenges for Asia and Europe in a Globalizing World
Participants: Approximately 100 young leaders

(7) AEYLS VII

Sponsor: Vietnam (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Asia-Europe Foundation,
Date: August 24-29 2003
Venue: Ho Chi Minh City
General Theme: Strengthening Asia-Europe Co-operation: Opportunities and Challenges in the Emerging New Global Context
Participants: Approximately 100 young leaders

---

Back to ASEM Index
Back to Culture Index