1st International Conference of the Africa-Asia Development University Network (AADUN) and the Africa's Asian Options (AFRASO) Project

In conjunction with this strategic reality, an increasing number of Asian countries have tried to be active "players" in Africa and numerous African actors (governments, businesses, research institutes, NGOs, etc.) have likewise embarked on forging links with Asian countries.

The first international conference of AADUN-AFRASO 2014 (Africa-Asia Development University Network - Africa’s Asian Options), was jointly organized by the Africa-Asia Development University Network (AADUN), based at the University of Malaya, the Centre for Civilizational Dialogue (UMCCD) of the University of Malaya and the collaborative research project “Africa’s Asian Options” (AFRASO), based at the Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Germany. It represents a forward in order to raise consciousness towards the untapped potentials of the two continents and to promote the significance of South-South (i.e. Asia-Africa) cooperation.

The three-day conference was officiated by YBhg. Professor Dato’ Dr. Morshidi Sirat, the Director General of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Malaysia. In attendance at the opening ceremony were YBhg. Professor Dato’ Dr. Mohd Amin Jalaludin, Vice Chancellor, University of Malaya; Professor Dr. Awang Bulgiba Awang Mahmud, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research & Innovation), University of Malaya; Professor Dr. Arndt Graf, Director, Interdisciplinary Center of East Asian Studies (IZO) and Chair, Department of Southeast Asian Studies, Goethe-University of Frankfurt, Germany; Honorary Guest Ms. Mami Yamada Sakurai, Assistant Director for Partnerships and Triangular Cooperation, United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation, New York; and Professor Dr. Azirah Hashim, 1st AADUN-AFRASO 2014 Chairperson and Dean, Humanities Research Cluster, University of Malaya.

The conference also aimed to throw light on various angles of African-Asian relations and explore the new opportunities and new challenges generated by African-Asian encounters under four major thematic headings: (1) Markets on the Move, (2) Transnational Civic Networks between Africa and Asia, (3) New Avenues for Civilizational Dialogue between Asia and Africa, (4) Improving the living habitats by Africa-Asia university cooperation.

More than 80 papers were presented, which touched on issues from public health, educational policy and China-Africa trade relations to political economy, women in science and technology, renewable energy and many more. The conference attracted presenters and participants from Malaysia, Japan, Ghana, Nigeria, Germany, the Philippines, South Korea, Ethiopia, the Netherlands, Kenya, Tanzania, Australia, Morocco, Zambia, South Africa, Thailand, India, Bangladesh and the United States among other countries.

For more information, please visit http://umconference.um.edu.my/AA2014