16th Asia Europe Economic Forum, 28-29 November in Berlin on EU-Asia Trade and Investment Connectivity

The 16^th AEEF is hosted by Bertelsmann Stiftung (Foundation), together with Bruegel and the Centre d’Études Prospectives et d’Informations Internationales (CEPII) on the European side, and the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), Shanghai Jiaotong University and the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP) on the Asian side with the financial support of the Asia-Europe Foundation, Singapore (ASEF).

Global economic trends over the last decades have steadily increased the links between Asia and Europe. For both regions, a growing economic interdependency represents an opportunity to build strong, fair and sustainable relations. Nonetheless, constant global economic disruptions, political uncertainty and a rapid change in economic dynamics make cooperation no easy task for policy makers.

With strong recognition of this challenge, the Asia Europe Economic Forum (AEEF) is contributing to interregional cooperation with the diversification and consolidation of the links between Asia and Europe. The AEEF was established in 2006 by Jean Pisani-Ferry, the then-director of the Brussels-based think tank Bruegel, as a high-level forum to bring together Asian and European senior policy makers and experts. As such, the Forum is a platform for research-based exchange and discussion on global issues and mutual interests. It is here where Asian and European policy experts can learn from each other, thereby gaining a deeper understanding of the economic and political ties between Asia and Europe. The AEEF is all about bringing countries together and building partnerships with regard to shared interests—the AEEF is all about connectivity (see textbox).

With this year’s topic “EU-Asia Trade and Investment Connectivity”, the Forum will provide insights into the patterns of international trade and investment across Asia and Europe. It will comprise discussions and presentations on the current drivers of these patterns and—more importantly—it will show how improving connectivity between Asia and Europe can facilitate customs, trade and investment, and the delivery of economic prosperity to both regions.

Speakers include H.E. Ken Wu, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Germany; Jean Pisani-Ferry, Visiting Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics and Senior Fellow, Bruegel; Sébastien Jean, Director, Centre d’Études Prospectives et d’Informations Internationales; Guntram Wolff, Director, Bruegel; and Aart De Geus, Chairman and CEO, Bertelsmann Stiftung.

The full program can be found here. The AEEF is a closed-door event and open to invited guests only.

Come back next week for a synopsis on the talks and discussion of the AEEF!