Many initiatives have been introduced with the aim of bringing the East and the West closer. In fact, it represents a classic paradigm of how to overcome cultural distances within the international community; a challenge that has resulted in certain successes and countless disappointments. One example of the former is the Asia Europe Foundation (ASEF) which, using innovative principles, is the only formal institution within the main multilateral dialogue channel between Asia and Europe: the Asia Europe Meeting process (ASEM). This volume provides a closer look at ASEF, through a text written by the second Executive Director, Delfín Colomé, a Spanish diplomat who was also a renowned musician and essayist. The description that the author gives off the gestation of the project and its functioning represents a document of particular interest, given that it throws light upon the diplomatic and organisational complexity that such initiatives entail. Managing ASEF has not only required an enormous capacity for conciliation and intelligence to harmonise the interests of a great number of states, it has also demanded large doses of creativity in its attempt to give a voice to civil societies. The book describes all of this and represents at the same time a work of reference and a homage to some of the people (such as Delfí Colomé) who have dedicated their lives to building bridges in which the main elements are the values of respect, dialogue and peace.

Delfin Colomé (Barcelona, 1946 – Seul, 2008) fue diplomático de carrera a la vez que escritor y músico (compositor y director). Licenciado en Derecho por la Universidad de Barcelona en 1968, se doctoró en Estética en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. En 1976 entró a formar parte del Servicio Exterior de España y, tras servir en Bulgaria, Noruega, UNESCO y México, fue nombrado Director General de Cooperación Cultural y Vicepresidente de la Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional (AECI). Su experiencia en la organización de programas culturales le condujo a estar entre los fundadores de la red del Instituto Cervantes y a ser miembro de la Comisión del Quinto Centenario 1992. En años posteriores, Colomé actuó como Embajador en Filipinas y, entre 2000 y 2004, como Director Ejecutivo de la Asia Europe Foudation (ASEF). Su última etapa la vivió como Embajador de España en la República de Corea, cargo que asumió el año 2005.

ISBN: 978-84-92511-04-4

160 pp.

Place an order with Edicions Bellaterra