Bandung, Indonesia

ASEM Youth Dialogue

The annual ASEM Youth Dialogue provides a valuable channel through which Youth in ASEM countries could exchange perspectives on priority themes in the ASEM agenda. Focus is given to the role and participatory nature of Youth in the ASEM Process, particularly with regard to coming up with solutions to identified common challenges. This would be the 7th installment to the series launched in Denmark, with the Danish Youth Council, during the 4th ASEM Summit (ASEM4) in 2002.

The 1st edition of the Asia-Europe Youth Interfaith Dialogue series, celebrated in Pamplona and Javier, Spain, in November 2006, gave the opportunity to young representatives of faiths and religious organisations to exchange views and experiences based on their respective religions and spiritual traditions and to brainstorm on new ways to strengthen youth interfaith co-operation under the ASEM framework. After a fruitful exchange of views, participants reached a consensus that is reflected on the ‘Javier Declaration’, which was approved with a standing ovation on the 22nd November 2006.

2nd Asia-Europe Youth Interfaith Dialogue

The 2nd installment of the Asia-Europe Youth Interfaith Dialogue was held in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia, on 23-27 June 2008. The project was co-organised by the Indonesian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs, the Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) and the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF).

During this 5-day event, up to 100 young representatives of Churches, Faiths and Youth religious organisations and networks from the ASEM partners, together with guest-speakers and experts in inter-religious dialogue, reflected on how religions can assist in facing critical issues that concern our societies.

At the end of the Dialogue, participants were encouraged to materialise their agreements on the matters discussed, as well as the ideas raised from the sessions and side activities, on the message to ASEM Leaders. This Message intends to channel the contribution of Youth in the field of interfaith and religious affairs to the ASEM Process.

For more information, please  visit www.asef.org