We love Mondays and especially after coming back from the ASEF Young Leaders Summit!

YouthProAktiv have its own batteries charged and we want to also charge yours!

How?? By inspiring! Because every great experience must be shared and re-shared!

The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) is an intergovernmental forum for dialogue and cooperation which fosters political dialogue, reinforces economic cooperation, and promotes collaboration in other areas of mutual interest.

ASEM was officially established in 1996 at the first summit in Bangkok, Thailand, as an exclusively Asian-European forum to enhance relations and various forms of co-operation between the then 12 members of the European Union (EU) and its Commission, the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the individual countries of China, Japan, and South Korea.

After several series of enlargements, ASEM currently has 53 partners: 51 countries and 2 international organisations. The countries are Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, the Lao PDR, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom and Viet Nam, while the European Union and the ASEAN Secretariat are the international organisations involved.

In general, the process is considered by the parties involved to be a way of deepening the relations between Asia and Europe at all levels, which is deemed necessary to achieve a more balanced political and economic world order. The process is enhanced by the biennial meetings of Heads of State and Government, alternately in Europe and Asia, and biennial meetings of Foreign Ministers as well as political, economic, and socio-cultural meetings and events at various levels.

And inside the context of the Asia-Europe Meeting, the first ASEF Young Leaders Summit was conceived and performed!

The ASEF Young Leaders Summit (#ASEFYLS) was taking place from last 1-5^th November 2015 in Luxembourg! ASEFYLS emerged from the request by young citizens and ASEM Head of States and Governments for a closer interaction and exchange of perspectives on pressing societal issues in both regions. It has been a common space for young thinkers and doers to question and explore how the entrepreneurial vein can trigger and nourish job-creation, mobility and social cohesion in Asia and Europe. Constructive dialogue, hands-on skills development and a Call for Action addressed to the ASEM Foreign Ministers has been the core elements of the programme.

But, which has been the big asset of this ASEMYLS in practical terms?

1. Exchange and share of the great potential of the young leaders representing both European and Asian continents! 

Out of more than 5.000 applications, 120 have been the selected Asian and European Young Leaders! Can you imagine the huge potential of 120 proactive multicultural brains thinking at the same time on the best way to improve the world? You are right! It has been incredible! Feel free to check their profiles here!

2. Reflection about the way in which entrepreneurship & education should be shaping youth employability! 

Because we should shape the world we want! During this 5 long days conference, we have been linking the dots between entrepreneurship and youth employment across 5 sectors: governments, corporations, education, startups and social enterprises. Feel free to check the program here!

3. Direct discussion with high-top policy makers, entrepreneurs, leaders and social changers!

Keynote speakers have included HE Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission; HE Jean ASSELBORN, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs and Minister of Immigration and Asylum of Luxembourg; HE Lubomír ZAORÁLEK, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic; and Mr Claude MEISCH, Minister of Education, Children and Youth and for Higher Education and Research in Luxembourg.

Hosted by the University of Luxembourg and then the European Investment Bank, the Summit offers dialogue sessions with key ASEM policy-makers, panel discussions with renowned business and start-up representatives, including Mr Kazuo TSUKUDA, Senior Executive Advisor, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., and Mr Peter VESTERBACKA, Mighty-Eagle, Rovio Entertainment, and Founder of the Angry Birds franchise among many others!

Do not skip their great messages for the Asian and European Youth:

 

HE Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission

“I believe you are not just the leaders of the future but the leaders of today”

“Cooperation & not #confrontation is the #driving force”

 “We need strong #leaders able to make #partnerships”

“The strength of our #partners is also our strength”

 

Ambassador ZHANG Yan, Executive Director Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF)

“Nothing is impossible. The world itself says I am possible!”

 

H E Jean ASSELBORN, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg

“All of you will shape the future of your continent. The leaders of today will be the leaders of tomorrow in the context of ASEM”

 

Mr. Kazuo TSUKUDA, Member of the Board Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd

“The qualities of a leader changes depending of its positions. Being a leader requires the ability to convince people about the greatness of the idea regardless the changeable circumstances! Motivation is not coming from outside! Is something that you have if you want to have it.”

 

Mr. Vijay GOYAL, Chief Finance Officer ArcelorMittal Europe 

“Innovation is about ideas and how to make them come to life!”

“You are all in a new world that it is much better than the previous one”

 

Dr. Alwin WONG, Director Institute of Entrepreneurship, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

“Entrepreneurship is not just about making money! Is about building your own life! Is a way of living!”

 

Mr. Peter VESTERBACKA, Chief Marketing Officer, Rovio Entertainment

“Of course you can change the world! Of course you can walk on water!”

“You can not run a successful business is you don’t have a bigger mission!”

“We should be failing everyday in order to success”

 

Ms. Marjut Santoni: Deputy Secretary General- European Investment Bank (EIB)

“The way to solve unemployment is a higher investment particularly in the real economy. The mission of the EIB is helping Europe to invest!”

 

Dr. Rien WAGENVOORT, Senior Economist, Digital Economy and Education Division (EIB)

“Small business is the biggest employer of young people! 1 of each 5 young workers is employed by a SME!”

 

Ms. Martine REICHERTS, Director General, Directorate General for Education and Culture (DG EAC), European Commission

“Be creative! We need to work for developing both pars of our brains”