The Minister for Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, visited this Monday the premises that will house Casa Asia’s new headquarters at the Pedralbes complex in Barcelona. The building works, which are now entering their final phase, are expected to be completed in the coming months, with the new facilities due to become operational by the end of the year.
During his visit, the minister was accompanied by the Catalan Government’s Minister for Justice and Democratic Quality, Ramón Espadaler; the Second Deputy Mayor of Barcelona City Council, María Eugènia Gay; and other officials. The delegation also included the director of Casa Asia, José Pintor, and Robert Bagó, an architect from Cobrusi, the architectural firm responsible for the project.
Albares visited the two pavilions that will house the activities of the new Casa Asia. One of them will be used to accommodate the offices, whilst the other will house the public spaces, such as the auditorium, the media library and the classrooms.
Casa Asia
With its new headquarters in Pedralbes, Casa Asia – which celebrated its 25th anniversary last November – is raising its profile. It was in 2001 that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation signed an agreement with the Government of Catalonia and Barcelona City Council, under which it was agreed that the organisation’s headquarters would be based in Barcelona.
Casa Asia is Spain’s leading public diplomacy body for the Asia-Pacific region and a meeting point for all stakeholders with an interest in this geographical area. Its mission is to promote understanding of and relations with this region, which plays such a crucial role in the world.
Casa Asia works to help shape open, innovative and sustainable societies, thanks to the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, which, together with the Government of Catalonia and the City Councils of Barcelona and Madrid, is the driving force behind this Consortium.
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