AspirE team meets with EU Office representatives in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong/Chinese mainland team had the pleasure of meeting with representatives from the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao to share key findings from the AspirE project. The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to discuss insights from AspirE’s research on migration drivers from Asia to Europe and the complexities surrounding decisions to migrate or not to migrate.

Representing the EU Office were Mr. Mathias Kaufmann, Deputy Head of Office and Head of Political Press and Information Section; Mr. Sami Al Daghistani, Trade Affairs Officer; and Mr. Rafael Rienks, Intern from the Trade Section.

During the meeting, the AspirE team presented major outcomes of their fieldwork and analysis, highlighting the diverse motivations, constraints, and aspirations shaping migration trajectories from Asia to Europe. The discussion also explored collaboration between Hong Kong-based researchers and EU partners, focusing on both the achievements and challenges of conducting multi-country research. Participants reflected on lessons learned from transnational cooperation and considered potential improvements for future research and policy engagement, including more dynamic channels for communication, data sharing, and stakeholder involvement.

The meeting underscored the shared commitment of both sides to advancing mutual understanding of migration dynamics.