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An introduction to our programme...

The Conference Series brings together, individuals that are actively engaged in the subject matter at hand - professionally or academically - so that they may confer, in an open public meeting, on issues that have direct impact on their work .

Participants, speakers and discussants from diverse governmental & civil society institutions are invited to draw out a broader spectrum of input. A medium-to-large sized group is usually invited, depending on the subject and arrangements made with partner institutions. Subjects for discussion are not sensitive and the meeting is usually open to the public and /or the media.

The conferences are primarily done in partnership with institutions that have specific expertise on the topic at hand.

10th-12th December 2007

Ancient Civilisations, New Beginnings: A Dialogue of Change

UNESCO, Paris

The Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and the World Public Forum – Dialogue of Civilizations (WPF-DC), organised a conference entitled “ Ancient Civilisations, New Beginnings: A Dialogue of Change ” from the 10-12 December 2007 in Paris. This conference brought together approximately 60 participants from various countries in Asia and Europe, and was organised with the support of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Acedemie Diplomatique Internationale and the Institut de Relations Internationales et Stratégiques (IRIS).

Over the last few years, both ASEF and the WPF-DC have developed and supported various projects, programmes and encounters aimed at promoting understanding and bridging divides between communities and cultures through dialogue over the last few years. These many initiatives have been valuable in breaking barriers, forging new relationships and even enabling individuals to better understand and reflect on their respective communities.

In recognition of the continued importance of promoting dialogue and understanding, this conference focused on some of the most pressing areas of concern, namely, racism and xenophobia, the relationship between religion and the state, the impact of the media and the relationship between the private and public sector. Further, this conference encouraged participants and other like-minded institutions to prioritise and focus on avenues for translating many of the ideas and recommendations that come out of this dialogue into concrete policy. This was seen as an important step in measuring the success and impact of initiatives in this field, and a primary force for the betterment of our respective societies.