Europe-Asia Relations in 2022: Reflections and Predictions

As we reach the halfway point of 2022, STEAR has an opportunity to evaluate events from the last 6 months, and review what this may mean for the latter half of the year in EU-Asia relations. From the continued impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, to the first major European military conflict in decades, the events of 2022 so far have been unprecedented. The entire world has been rocked by instability, at a time when global unity to tackle the growing environmental crisis is needed.

Relations between Europe and Asia have generally been shaped by development aid and trade, but as Asia continues to rise, and Europe faces manifold problems, 2022 may shape a new era of Europe-Asia relations. Many countries are hesitantly watching China’s actions and relations with Ukraine, leaving security as a top-priority, whilst Asia’s own conflicts continue under a much-reduced spotlight. Both Europe and Asia have major events coming up in the course of the year, with major European elections, the G7 and G20 Summits, and the 20th National Party Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. This event will analyse the impact of recent and ongoing events on Europe-Asia relations, how they may impact upcoming events, and anticipate future trends.

Keynote Speaker

His Excellency Nong Sakal 

Ambassador of the Kingdom of Cambodia to Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria and the EU

Ambassador NONG Sakal joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia in 1994 as a career diplomat. He has been appointed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Cambodia to Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria and the EU in November 2021. From February 2019 to September 2021, he served as Under Secretary of State for ASEAN affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia. From March 2015 to November 2016, he served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Cambodia to the Republic of Indonesia while holding a parallel function as Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Cambodia to ASEAN in Jakarta. Subsequently, he was nominated as a dedicated Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Cambodia to ASEAN (November 2016 to February 2019).

Other experiences:

• 2013-2015: Director-General of the General Department of Cambodia
• 2011-2013: Deputy Director-General of ASEAN-Cambodia
• 2007-2011: Councellor, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Royal Embassy of Cambodia to Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria and the EU
• 2003-2007: Deputy Director of Department, General Department of ASEAN, MFA-IC
• 1999-2003: Chief of Bureau, General Department of ASEAN, MFA-IC
• 1995-Jan 1999: Third Secretary, Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Bangkok.

Panellists

Anne McNaughton 

Director of the ANU Centre for European Studies (ANUCES)

Anne McNaughton is a comparative lawyer who researches at the intersection of international and comparative law.  She was appointed as Director of the ANU Centre for European Studies (ANUCES) in March 2020 (having been its Deputy Director since 2015). Anne has been particularly interested in the complex issues associated with how global economic integration affects the local legal framework at various levels.  Anne researches the concept of mutual recognition as developed in EU jurisprudence and its migration into international trade treaties and agreements.  Building on this work, her current research examines the nature of legal transplants between new and emerging legal systems of international law.  Anne has conducted this research as a member of an Australian Research Grant Linkage project that examined the changing nature of the trade and business relationship between Australia and the European Union. She has also been a member of several research projects funded through the European Union’s Jean Monnet activities programme and is currently a research lead in a Jean Monnet network and Centre of Excellence based at the ANU Centre for European Studies.

Dr. Frederick Kliem 

Research Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU)

Frederick Kliem is a Research Fellow and lecturer at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore. Frederick is with the Centre for Multilateralism Studies at RSIS and his main research interests are regional integration and multilateralism as well as the geopolitics of Asia and Europe. Specific research projects include the study of ASEAN and EU institutions, inter-regionalism and comparative regionalism as well as European Indo-Pacific engagement. In addition, Frederick is a freelance Consultant and a EU Key Expert on ASEAN-EU matters. His latest book is Great Power Competition and Order Building in the Indo-Pacific: Towards a New Indo-Pacific Equilibrium. United Kingdom: Routledge, 2022.