The Asia Pacific Social Forum (APSF) Process Planning meeting, aimed at fostering unity among Asian social movements addressing regional issues such as political freedom, human rights, and economic justice, took place at Burapha University, Thailand, on August 30 and 31, 2024. The meeting was convened in response to the urgent need to advance the World Social Forum process and explore future steps for solidarity in Asia and the Asia Pacific Social Forum Process Planning.
On the first day, the meeting reviewed the success of the World Social Forum 2024 held in Nepal from February 15-19, 2024. During the review, APSF members who participated in the forum appreciated the inclusive involvement of grassroots movements—trade unions, farmer movements, Dalit movements, indigenous movements, youths, and marginalized communities.
The meeting also deliberated on the overall situation in Asia. Professor Walden Bello from the Philippines highlighted the rising tensions in the South China Sea between China and the Philippines, where the U.S. is also heavily involved. Professor Bello further stated that China seeks to control the South China Sea, but its maneuvers are defensive. “The U.S., with bases surrounding China, could be seen as provoking a conflict. While China could potentially be negotiated with, the U.S. approach is different, pushing the Philippines toward a clash,” he added.
On the second day, the meeting primarily discussed the concept note drafted on the three APSF themes—Peace and Security, Democracy and Human Rights, and Climate Justice—and formed working groups based on the thirteen thematic themes of the WSF2024 in Nepal.
The meeting also planned strategies to bridge the gap between Asia and Africa for WSF2026, which will be held in Cotonou, Benin.
The meeting further decided to organize a Social Movement Webinar in November, taking into account the U.S. elections (November 5, 2024) and COP 29 (November 11-22, 2024), and a thematic forum on the APSF's three thematic issues—Peace and Security, Human Rights and Democracy, and Climate Justice—in March 2025 in a hybrid format in Thailand. The Asia Pacific Social Forum is set for November 2025 in Malaysia, in parallel with the meeting of the Asia Democracy Network (AND). Altogether, forty activists from twelve countries (Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Sri Lanka, South Korea, and Thailand) participated in the planning meeting.