Mission

Like Europe and the United States, Asia is now one of the three pillars of the world economy. The rise of Asia has significant implications for the whole world in terms of geopolitics, economic growth and cultural development. Major Asian countries like China, Japan and India as well as such regional groupings as ASEAN are increasingly important trading and dialogue partners for European countries. Yet, it is generally recognised that Europe's understanding of Asia is still far from sufficient.
The Geneva Asia Society is a Geneva-based non-profit institution established to promote Geneva's exchanges with Asian countries and develop better knowledge of Asian affairs. Favourably located in Geneva, capital of multilateral diplomacy, the Society has established an extensive network of individual as well as institutional members with the purpose of exchanging views and knowledge on Asia, ranging from arts and culture to business opportunities, politics and diplomacy.

Origin and Activities

The Geneva Asia Society was founded in 1974 jointly by Jacques Freymond, ex-director of the Graduate Institute of International Studies and Thierry Barbey, partner of Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch. Fascinated by Asian culture and the rise of Asia and drawing inspirations from New York's Asia Society, they established the society in order to promote better understanding of Asia as part of their effort to support the Centre for Asian Studies, Geneva (GIIS/GIDS). The Society invites scholars and specialists and host conferences on various topics relating to contemporary Asian affairs, covering wide-ranging political, economic and social themes. It also organises cultural events and provides scholarships for academic studies on Asia.

Centre for Asian Studies (CAS)

The Centre for Asian Studies (CAS) is the oldest academic institution in Switzerland specialising in contemporary Asian studies, with an interdisciplinary focus on political, economic and social affairs of Asian countries. It is attached to the Graduate Institute of International Studies as well as the Graduate Institute of Development Studies, Geneva. CAS holds seminars and conferences and carry out research projects on Asian topics. It has a rich collection of Asia-related scientific periodicals, open to the public. It also publishes occasional papers as well as other publications. CAS has contributed to the establishment of the Swiss-ASEAN Business Grouping, the Swiss-Southeast Asia Chamber of Commerce and the Swiss Asia Foundation. It has launched an interdisciplinary Master Programme in Asian Studies in 2003-04. The teaching program will be under the joint responsibility of the University of Geneva and the GIDS (www.unige.ch/maspea/).

Geneva Asia Society - 20, rue Rothschild - 1202 Geneva (Switzerland)
Phone: +41 022 908 58 20 - E-mail: info@genasia.ch