A/Prof Wendy Li
James Cook University, Australia

Dear Members and Friends of AASP,

It is both an honour and a privilege to serve as President of the Asian Association of Social Psychology (AASP). I was elected as President-Elect at the 16th Biennial Conference in Kuala Lumpur in 2025. Following the sad passing of our President, Professor Li Liu, in October 2025, the Executive Committee appointed Professor Minoru Karasawa and me to jointly complete the remainder of Professor Liu’s presidential term. While I deeply wish the circumstances had been different, I regard this appointment as a profound responsibility to continue advancing the vision and aspirations that Professor Liu held for AASP.

For more than three decades, AASP has provided an intellectual home for scholars committed to understanding human behaviour within its cultural, historical, and societal contexts. Established in 1995, the Association has grown into a vibrant international community that promotes culturally grounded scholarship, nurtures researchers across all career stages, and advances social psychology from Asia and the Pacific to the global stage.

Today, our region faces unprecedented opportunities and challenges. Artificial intelligence, climate change, migration, population ageing, social inequality, and growing concerns about mental health and wellbeing remind us that social psychology has never been more important. Addressing these complex issues requires culturally informed perspectives, interdisciplinary collaboration, and meaningful partnerships across countries, disciplines, and communities.

My vision is to build on AASP’s strong foundations while strengthening AASP for the future. We will continue to foster excellence in research through our conferences, the Asian Journal of Social Psychology, collaborative research, and initiatives that support early- and mid-career researchers. At the same time, we will deepen partnerships with sister associations and institutions, expand opportunities for collaboration across the Asia-Pacific region, and promote social psychology that is both scientifically rigorous and socially relevant.

A key initiative during my presidency has been the establishment of the Strategic Development and Planning Subcommittee (SDPS), chaired by Professor Xiaomin Sun. Working closely with the Executive Committee, the Subcommittee will help shape AASP’s long-term development by strengthening strategic partnerships, expanding membership and member engagement, supporting the next generation of scholars, and leading major initiatives such as the Asian-Pacific Social Survey. I believe the future of AASP lies not only in producing outstanding scholarship, but also in building an engaged community that works together to address the pressing social challenges facing our region.

As Asian social psychology continues to grow in influence, AASP has an important role to play in shaping a more inclusive and globally relevant discipline. By embracing diverse cultural perspectives, fostering international collaboration, and translating research into meaningful societal impact, we can contribute not only to advancing psychological science but also to improving the wellbeing of communities across Asia and the Pacific.

I warmly invite you to become actively involved in AASP. Whether by attending our events, contributing to the Asian Journal of Social Psychology, joining one of our committees, participating in collaborative research, or mentoring emerging scholars, your ideas, expertise, and commitment are what make AASP such a vibrant and welcoming community.

Let us continue to strengthen Asian social psychology, deepen collaboration across cultures, and build a discipline that advances scientific understanding while making a meaningful difference to society.

I look forward to working with you.

 

A/Prof Wendy Li

President

Asian Association of Social Psychology