As Director of Policy, Shada Islam is responsible for policy oversight of Friends of Europe’s initiatives, activities and publications, including the Asia Programme. Shada is the former Europe correspondent for the Far Eastern Economic Review and has previously worked on Asian issues at the European Policy Centre. She is closely involved with initiatives to promote Asia-Europe exchanges including within the context of ASEM (Asia Europe Meetings). Shada also writes on EU foreign and security policy, EU-Asia relations and trade and development issues for leading Asian, European and international press.
China’s role within Asia is changing as its wealth and assertiveness grow. Shada Islam discussed how strong neighbourhood relations are and what challenges they face, as well as what the new Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank may bring to the relationships, and the prospects for increased engagement between the dynamic Asia-Pacific region and the EU.
