CIRSD Delegation Completes Tour of Asian Capitals

CIRSD President Vuk Jeremić, accompanied by CIRSD Senior Fellow Damjan Krnjevic Miskovic, completed a tour of several Asian capitals, visiting Ulaan Baator, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to meet with leading political figures and senior think-tank representatives.

In Ulaan Baator, Jeremić met with Mongolian President
 Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, who spoke about the social, economic and environmental reforms he has undertaken to modernize Mongolia. President Elbegdorj also expressed strong support for the negotiations to determine the UN post-2015 agenda and the climate change talks, both of which are scheduled to be completed by December 2015. Jeremić and Elbegdorj also discussed latest developments in Central Asia, agreeing on the importance of furthering regional crisis prevention and mediation initiatives.

In Beijing, Jeremić met with China’s Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong. They discussed recent developments in East Asia, ongoing efforts to reform the United Nations, and current progress in advancing the UN post-2015 agenda. In addition, Li and Jeremić exchanged views on China’s New Silk Road concept, noting that Southeast Europe could become one of its westernmost terminal points, as was the case in centuries past. They agreed that CIRSD could play a role in publicizing the New Silk Road idea of enhancing economic ties across Eurasia, and decided to explore ways in which practical cooperation could be established in this area.

In Kuala Lumpur, Jeremić met with Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato’ Sri Anifah Hj. Aman. They spoke about Malaysia’s priorities for its 2015 chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), its role in helping to facilitate dialogue between conflicting parties in parts of Southeast Asia. The interlocutors also exchanged views on challenges such as sustainable development, UN reform, and regional tensions in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe.

CIRSD Senior Fellow Damjan Krnjević Mišković met with Dato’ Steven C.M. Wong, the Deputy Chief Executive of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS), Malaysia’s leading public policy organization, exploring ways in which the two think-tanks could cooperate by holding joint events in light of the fact that in 2015 Malaysia will chair ASEAN and Serbia the OSCE.

In Singapore, Jeremić met with Acting Foreign Minister and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Grace Fu. Topics raised included how to overcome the adverse effects of climate change and global environmental degradation, as well as the city-state’s efforts at managing limited water and energy resources. The Singaporean minister also spoke of her government’s commitment to multilateral diplomacy through regional mechanisms such as ASEAN, and emphasized the importance of the role of the United Nations in establishing common standards of sustainable development.

During his visit to Singapore, Jeremić also met with Ambassador Barry Desker, Dean of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, and Prof. Kishore Mahbubani, Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Mahbudani, who is one of Singapore’s most distinguished diplomats, has been named “the muse of the Asian century,” and is considered one of Asia’s most influential thinkers on international relations. Jeremic and Mahbudani agreed that CIRSD will publish a Serbian translation of the latter’s latest book, entitled The Great Convergence: Asia, the West, and the Logic of One World, which was named a 2013 Book of the Year by the Financial Times.

In assessing the results of his meetings in Asian capitals, Jeremić said that he was satisfied with the level of interest and support for CIRSD expressed by his interlocutors. “There is a recognition that the time has come for the countries of East Asia and Southeast Asia to deepen their outreach efforts to Southeast Europe. I am optimistic that our respective countries can enhance our political and economic ties, and that think-tanks like CIRSD can facilitate deeper cooperation on a number of issues, from sustainable development strategies to exchanging lessons learned on conflict prevention. I look forward to working with some of the leading institutes in the region on a number of projects in the years ahead,” concluded Jeremic.

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