Scott No: -
Serial number: 2008-27
Values in set: 1
Date of issue: October 24, 2008
Denomination: 120 fen
Designer: He Jie
Size of stamps: 40 * 30 mm
Perforation: 12 * 11.5
Sheet composition: 16
Printing process: Offset
Printing House: Henan Postage Stamp Printing Works

On October 24, 2008, the commemorative stamp "7th ASEM Summit" (catalog number 2008-27) was officially issued, coinciding with the opening of the summit. The set consists of one stamp with a face value of 1.20 yuan, designed by He Jie and printed by Henan Post and Telecommunications Printing Factory using offset printing.

The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) is an important intergovernmental multilateral dialogue platform between Asia and Europe. The 7th ASEM Summit was held in Beijing, marking the first time leaders from all 45 member states gathered after the second round of ASEM enlargement. The summit theme was "Dialogue and Cooperation, Mutual Benefit and Win-Win." China Post issued this stamp to commemorate the first time the ASEM Summit was hosted in China, promoting equal cooperation between Asia and Europe in politics, economics, sustainable development, and cultural exchange, and demonstrating China's commitment to fostering a peaceful and prosperous relationship between the two continents.

Stamp Design and Historical Background:

7th ASEM Summit

Image: The main design features the summit's official emblem, which combines the letters "A" (Asia) and "E" (Europe) to form a Chinese knot. The golden area of the "E" cleverly forms the Chinese character "七" (seven), corresponding to the 7th summit. The right side of the stamp features the text "ASEM7" and "BEIJING 2008."
Significance: The Chinese knot symbolizes the close connection and harmonious coexistence between Asia and Europe, directly embodying the summit's theme of communication, cooperation, and mutual benefit.

Artistic and Design Features:

The stamp features a simple horizontal format with a clean white background, making the main subject stand out. The emblem uses a red-gold gradient with a three-dimensional effect, blending traditional Chinese aesthetics with modern international design. The overall composition is restrained and refined, balancing the formal character of an international summit with the cultural identity of the host. The oval-shaped perforations on both sides enhance recognition and anti-counterfeiting. The miniature sheet features globes and summit text on the border, further emphasizing the theme of intercontinental cooperation.

This stamp set belongs to the category of international diplomatic summit commemorative stamps, marking the unique historical milestone of the ASEM Summit being held in Beijing for the first time. Available in both large sheet and miniature sheet formats, collectors often pair it with other international conference-themed stamps, such as the Boao Forum and APEC, making it an important item for thematic collections on contemporary diplomacy and international economic exchange.