THE YEAR BEGINNING Asia: The 2025 agenda

Events, anniversaries and significant topics for the continent in the year that begins today, from the Osaka World Expo to the midterm elections in the Philippines. In May, possible ecumenical trip of Francis and Bartholomew I to Nice for the 1700th anniversary of the Creed. The contribution of cooperatives to development and the melting of glaciers are the central themes of the International Years declared by the UN.

The UN has proclaimed 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives to highlight the contribution of this form of economic activity to development.

Given the consequences of climate change, at the proposal of Tajikistan, 2025 will also be the International Year of Glacier Conservation and proclaimed March 21 of each year as World Glacier Day from 2025.

In 2025, Malaysia will assume the presidency of ASEAN, the political, economic and cultural organization that brings together ten Southeast Asian countries.

In 2025, the rotating presidency of the G20 will be held by South Africa

The 2025 BRICS summit will be held in Brazil, with a date yet to be determined.

ELECTIONS

March 2 and 28: parliamentary elections in Tajikistan

May 12: midterm elections in the Philippines with the renewal of parliament and the first elections in Bangsamoro, the autonomous region of Mindanao.

November 23: Singapore general election

Before July: general elections of the House of Councilors, the upper house of the Japanese parliament.

October 2025: parliamentary elections in Iraq

December 2025: parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan

In Bangladesh, the interim government led by Mohammad Yunus has promised to hold elections between late 2025 and early 2026.

EVENTS

Expo 2025: From April 13 to October 13, Japan will host the World Expo in Osaka, with the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.”

Asia Summit on Global Health: May 26-27, Hong Kong.

Asia Christian Rights Fair: September 1 and 2 in Bangkok, Thailand, an event that will focus on the rights of Christians in the Asian region.

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS

Lunar New Year: January 29. According to the Chinese calendar, the year of the snake begins, which this year is associated with the element of wood.

Ramadan: February 28 – March 29

Pesach holiday (for the Jewish world): from the afternoon of April 12

This year Easter will fall for all Christians on April 20 due to the coincidence between the Gregorian calendar (followed by Catholics and Protestants) and the Julian calendar (followed by the Eastern Churches).

Vesak Buddhist Festival: May 12

Diwali Hindu Festival: October 21

CHURCH EVENTS

January 1: Beginning of the term of the new presidency of the FABC, the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences. Starting today it will be directed by Card. Felipe Neri Ferrao, archbishop of Goa and Darman in India.

March 27-29: at the Gregorian University of Rome, International Congress “Missio Dei in the world today” on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Verbita missionary institute

May 9: commemoration in Rome of the new martyrs, witnesses of the faith in the context of the Jubilee

End of May: the Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew and Pope Francis have expressed their intention to carry out a joint pilgrimage to Nicea, in Turkey, on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of the Council that in this city, now encompassed by the metropolis of Istanbul, formulated the Creed in which the divine nature of Jesus is affirmed

July 28-August 3: Youth Jubilee in Rome

October 4-5: Jubilee of the Missionary World in Rome

December 28: Closing of the Jubilee in all the dioceses of the world

SPORTS EVENTS

From July 11 to August 3 in Singapore, World Swimming Championships

From September 13 to 21 in Tokyo, World Athletics Championships

ANNIVERSARIES

1925 (centennials)

Founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam: On February 3, 1925, Ho Chi Minh founded the Communist Party of Vietnam, which played a crucial role in the country’s struggle for independence.

May 30 Movement in China: On May 30, 1925, a protest in Shanghai against foreign imperialism and working conditions led to violence, marking a turning point in the Chinese nationalist movement.

1975 (50 years)

Rise to power of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia: On April 17, 1975, the Khmer Rouge took Phnom Penh, establishing a regime that would cause millions of deaths.

End of the Vietnam War: On April 30, 1975, with the fall of Saigon, the Vietnam War ended, marking the reunification of the country under the communist regime.

Proclamation of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic: On December 2, 1975, the Pathet Lao took control of the country, abolished the monarchy and established a communist regime.

2000 (25 years)

Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon: On May 24, 2000, Israel completed the withdrawal of its forces from southern Lebanon, ending 18 years of occupation.

2000 Inter-Korean Summit: In June 2000, the leaders of North and South Korea met for the first time, marking a significant step toward reconciliation between the two countries.