The representative of UITM, Małgorzata Wejsis-Gołębiak, took part in the most important scientific, cultural, and business event devoted to Asia in Central Europe – the 11th International Asian Congress.
The event took place in Toruń on May 22-24 this year. This year’s edition was titled „Looking Beyond the Horizon. Changing Dynamics of International Relations in Asia.”
Representing our University for the second time, Małgorzata Wejsis-Gołębiak, played a double role – as a representative of the academic community, as a lecturer at the Department of Political Science and Administration of UITM, and also as a diplomat.
She participated in discussions during selected panels, conducted conversations with representatives of the main organizer, the academic community, and the world of diplomacy, and, similarly to last year, led the Young Diplomats panel „The Role of Asia in the Modern World” addressed to young adepts of the science and art of diplomacy. The lively discussion mentioned, among others: issues such as the multi-vector nature of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy, diplomacy, and culture as a tool for shaping the image of countries on the example of Japan, or Singapore as an Asian bridge in international politics. The country of particular interest to the authors of the papers was China, including its energy security, trade with the countries of Central Asia, and even „Why does China need the Arctic?”.
The Asian Congress, inaugurated 17 years ago as a national conference, has had the status of an international congress since 2014, integrating researchers, experts, politicians, diplomats, entrepreneurs, and young scientists dealing with and interested in Asian issues. In addition to stationary events and panels in Toruń, this year’s congress includes a series of remote discussion panels, webinars, and accompanying events, which have been taking place since the end of 2023 and will last until the end of September 2024.
The Congress includes over 600 participants from 20 countries, influential representatives of the world of diplomacy, science, academia, politics, economy, and culture interested in Asian issues, experts in the field of Asian studies, interlocutors debating in 50 thematic panels on politics, economy, investment, innovation, cooperation international and culture. One of the most important results of the meetings in Toruń is the Asia and Pacific Library, which currently has over a hundred volumes.
The wide range of organizers of this year’s edition of the congress include the Asia-Pacific Society and the Foundation for International Cooperation. prof. Czesław Mojsiewicz, the Marshal’s Office of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, the Toruń City Hall, the Faculty of Political Science and International Relations of the University of Warsaw, the Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management of the Nicolaus Copernicus University, and the Faculty of Political and Security Sciences of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. The event was held under the honorary patronage of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Science and Higher Education, the Voivode of Kujawsko-Pomorskie, the Marshal of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, the Mayor of Toruń, and rectors of many Polish universities, including the University of Rzeszów.
This year, the honorary guest of the congress was the People’s Republic of China, represented by Ambassador HE Sun Linjiangi together with his wife and a large delegation of the Polish-Chinese Central Chamber of Commerce, headed by its president Hu Xinyuan. The main theme of the program related to China was the 75th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Poland and China. As part of the program dedicated to China, cultural discussions and panels regarding China and Polish-Chinese cooperation were organized. An economic panel was also organized, with over 30 Chinese delegations representing 22 companies, during which the new chapter of economic cooperation was discussed.
It is customary for the congress to have one of the Asian countries as the special guest of subsequent editions. This year it was Kazakhstan, to which an entire day of events was devoted. The Kazakh delegation was headed by Ambassador HE Alim Kirabayev. Kazakhstan was also present on several scientific panels.
The next one – the 12th International Asian Congress – is scheduled for May 21-23, 2025.
