亞歐基金會與亞歐文化交流

Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) & Asia-Europe Cultural Exchange

自後冷戰時期以來，意識形態的對立消失，文化的因素受到重視，進而為促進國際間的和平與交往以及避免文明的衝突，文化交流的重要性不斷提昇。自一九九六年以來的亞歐會議，乃亞歐兩大洲之間一個新的交流管道，其參與者多為官方的代表，可是雙方卻都強調其非正式的性質，乃該會議的特色。相對的，其所屬專門負責文化交流的亞歐基金會，乃該會議最重要的常設性組織，有一定的人員與預算編制，自一九九七年成立以來，也舉辦過相當多的活動，這對於亞歐會議的發展以及亞歐關係的改善，良有助益。由於文化的內涵包羅萬象，而文化交流對於國際關係的影響卻一直未受重視，導致在這方面的研究相對落後。歐洲在許多方面的發展比較先進，在亞歐文化交流方面，前者的優勢也十分顯著。一個明確的事證就是，亞洲留學歐洲的學生要比歐洲留學亞洲者超出許多。而亞歐基金會這種跨洲際的組織，乃一種新的文化交流模式，藉此可以了解亞歐雙方對於文化交流的重視程度，其中新加坡所擔任的角色極為重要，而許多資料顯示，在這方面，亞洲國家又比歐洲國家還要投入。由於各方對於亞歐基金會的評價都十分肯定，可以預見，亞歐基金會將在亞歐關係當中繼續扮演相當重要的角色。

At the close of the Cold War era, and the demise of ideological confrontation, the significance of culture is increasing. In order to promote relations among nations and to prevent the clash of civilizations, cultural exchange plays an increasingly important role. Since its inception in 1996, the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) has served as a new channel for communication between the two continents. It is known for the characteristics official but informal. However the Asia Europe Foundation (ASEF) has become the most important organization under the auspices of ASEM. Since its founding in 1997 hundreds of activities have been organized. It has contributed to much development of the ASEM and the Euro-Asian relations.Because culture is so vague and the function of cultural exchange within the international relations is difficult to establish, the research in this field is still underdeveloped. Nevertheless, Europe is more advanced in various fields than Asia and an asymmetry in the intercultural exchange between the two continents in favor of the former exists. Many more students from Asia study in Europe than European students study in Asia. Still ASEF as a brand new form of intercultural exchange, is a good example to apprehend how the ASEM member states value exchange and cooperation. Singapore has played a great role in this context. Many signs have also shown that Asian countries are more devoted to ASEF's activities than their European counterparts. Due to positive evaluations of ASEF's function, it confirms that ASEF will continue to play an important role in Euro-Asian relations.