Asia-Pacific Region

Region Report 2023

ABFF Presidents

President 2003-2005

Mr. Y.W.Junardy

Y.W. Junardy is the President of the Indonesia Global Compact Network (IGCN), the local chapter of the United Nations Global Compact in Indonesia. He is also a member of the Expert Team of the UN Global Compact after completing his term as a Board Member in 2018.b

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President 2005-2007

Prof. Amy Liang

From Taiwan to the World

As the former President of the NBAT, she was awarded the title of NBAT’s International Lifetime Consultant and Technical Advisor. As the former Chairperson for the ABFF, the WBFF awarded Prof. Liang a “World Bonsai Contributions Award,” engaging Prof. Liang to be the WBFF International Consultant.

President 2007-2009

Mr. Montri Suksermsongchai

Mr. Montree Suksermsongchai It is those who helped lay the foundation for that culture. Mr. Montri is well known among bonsai lovers around the world. With a style that combines Asian art with local Thai culture. Dr. Montri has not only played an important role in the development of Thai bonsai cultivation methods. But it is also an important force in pushing the bonsai circle in the country to prosper.

President 2009-2011 & 2019-2023

Mr. Roberto ‘Bobby’ Gopiao

Add a short bio for each team member. Make it brief and informative to keep visitors engaged.

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President 2013-2015

Ms. Hoang Ny (Honey)

she has been growing Bonsai with her Husband (Mr. Thanh Tam Nguyen) who is a Bonsai Master in Vietnam for over 40 years and is considered as one of the pioneers in Vietnam Bonsai.

She is Board Members of Vietnam Ornamental Creature Association Vivocas. Board Members of Ho Chi Minh City Bonsai. President ABFF- Asia Pacific Bonsai Friendship Federation 2013-2015

Vice President of Ho Chi Minh city Agricultural Industry Association

President 2015-2017

Mr. Kim Sae Won

Kim Sae Won’s legacy is one of tireless dedication, innovation, and fostering global camaraderie through the beauty of bonsai and floriculture. His profound impact on the international bonsai community, coupled with his extensive knowledge and artistic prowess, has solidified his position as a respected and influential figure in the horticultural world.

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President 2015-2017

Dato’ Pui Khiang Khang

he was appointed as ABFF president in year 2015 before he passes the baton down to the following
president of MBSS in 2017, subsequently in year 2020, Dato’ Pui again being invited to return back as president holding the fort as Malaysia Bonsai icon and development until today, where MBSS successfully bid for the 10th World Bonsai Convention (WBC) 2026.

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President 2023-2025

Mr. Kim Yong Muk

Mr Kim was born on May 15, 1966, he is holding Master's and Ph.D. degrees in engineering from The Chonnam National University. He is currently the chairman of the Namdo Bonsai Association and the Director of the Bonsai Association. He has been working for 33 years at Hanwha Solutions Yeosu Plant 2.

Background

Mr. Y.W.Junardy was appointed as the first President and Mr. Robert Steven as the Secretary General of ABFF. In recognition of his significant role in the promoting and setting up of ABFF, the late Mr. Ismail Saleh was also appointed President Emeritus of ABFF (Mr. Ismail Saleh died in 2008). The establishment of ABFF was recognized by WBFF and accepted as the member region of WBFF in the WBFF Board of Directors’ meeting in Tokyo on February 8, 2004.

The following describes some key activities of ABFF since its establishment:

The ABFF Convention and the New President's appointment.

According to the ABFF By-Laws, the term of the President is 2 years. At the end of the term, it is expected the country where President resides to conduct the “ABFF Bonsai Exhibition and Convention” either in cooperation either with other national or international organizations. The convention elects the new President for the next term.

The following describes the APFF leadership in chronology:

Year Country Appointment

2003 Indonesia Y.W.Junardy as the 1st President and Robert Steven of Indonesia as the Secretary General.

2005 Taiwan Prof. Amy Liang (Taiwan) was elected as the 2nd President and Robert Steven of Indonesia as the Secretary General.

2007 Thailand Montri Suksermsongchai (Thailand) as the 3rd President

2009 Philippines Roberto Gopiao (Philippines) as the 4th President.

2011/13 Vietnam Ms. Hoang Ny (Vietnam) as the 5th President.

2015 Malaysia Dato’ Pui Khiang Khang (Malaysia) as the 6th President.

and Mr. Kim Sae Won (Korea) as the Vice President.

2017/2019 Korea Kim Sae Won (Korea) as the 7th President and Dato’ Chua Kok Hwa as the Vice President.

2019/2023 Philippines Bobby Gopiao (Philippines) as the 8th President.

2023/2025 Korea Mr. Kim Yong Muk (Korea) appointed as the 9th President.

Background

The Asia Pacific Bonsai Friendship Federation (ABFF) was established in Manila on February 28th, 2003 coincided with the ASPAC VII conducted by the Philippine Bonsai Society, Inc. The federation's founding members include The Philippine Bonsai Society, Inc., Thai Bonsai Association, Malaysia Bonsai and Suiseki Society, Vietnam Natural and Traditional Beauty Association, Taiwan National Bonsai Association, Korea Small Bonsai Association (note: now replaced by Korea Shoshin Bonsai Association), Singapore Penjing & Stone Society and Indonesian Bonsai Society.

The name “Asia-Pacific Region” was established at the 4th WBFF Board of Director’s Meeting in Munich in June 3, 2001. The federation adopted the same name to represent the region. While carrying the name ‘Asia Pacific”, it does not include China, Japan and Australia/New Zealand as each of those countries represents as a region in WBFF.

History

The 2015 ABFF Convention & Exhibition - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 5-8 June 2015 Theme of “Enjoy Bonsai, Enhance Relationship”

The 2015 ABFF Convention & Exhibition was conducted by The Vietnam Natural and Traditional Beauty Association at the National Rin Rin Park, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on 5-8 June 2015. The event was participated by 198 overseas delegates from 18 countries: Thailand, Taiwan, China, Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Italy, USA, Puerto Rico, Philippine, Czech Republic, France, Australia, Japan, Lebanon and Vietnam.

The opening was attended by HCM People’s Committee, Member of the Executive Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and WBFF Director for Asia Pacific and WBFF International Consultant.

Over 800 spectacular bonsai which were strictly collected and chosen from various regions in Vietnam were displayed in this event.

Conducting the bonsai demonstration were:
Prof. Amy Liang (Taiwan)
Mr. Kunio Kobayashi (Japan)
Mr. Kim Seok Ju (Korea)
Mr. Vaclav Novak (Czech Republic)
Mr. Liu Chuanguang (China)
Mr. Sujay Shah & Mrs. Ruppa Shah (India)
An interesting presentation on the History of Stone Art was also conducted by Dr Thomas Elias (USA)

The ABFF Convention meeting unanimously agreed and elected Dato’ Pui Khiang Khang, President of Malaysia Bonsai & Suiseki Society, as the new ABFF President and Mr. Kim Sae Won, Chairman of Korea Shoshin Bonsai Association, as the ABFF Vice President for the period of 2015-2017.

The 13th Asia Pacific Bonsai and Viewing Stones Convention & Exhibition

Minutes of Convention Meeting (ASPAC 2015)

The 13th ASPAC was conducted jointly with the BCI 2015 Convention. The convention was conducted on 17 November 2015 at Guangdong Hotel, Guangzhou. The meeting was attended by country representatives from 11 Asia Pacific countries, i.e. Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and USA.

Mr. Hu Yun Hua officially opened the meeting by welcoming all the participants to attend the 2015 BCI and the 13th ASPAC in Guangzhou. He further updated the programs and reported that the event will showcase 388 selected bonsai, bonsai demonstration by bonsai experts from China and overseas, viewing stones lectures and bonsai/stone tours. He hoped the meeting will come up with solid decision as to the country hosting the next ASPAC.

Mr. M. Paiman expressed his great pleasure that for the second time we managed to conduct jointly an international event. The first was a joint event between 7th WBC and 12th ASPAC in Jintan, China in 2013.

Special guests attending the meeting were:

Mr. Jiro Fukuda, Chairman of WBFF
Mr. Yukihiko Konishi, WBFF International Consultant
Mr. Hatsuji Kato, Chairman of the 8th WBC Saitama Convention 2017)
Dr. Thomas Elias, BCI President/WBFF International Consultant

What is the relationship of ABFF and Asia Pacific Bonsai and Suiseki Convention & Exhibition (ASPAC)?

There is no formal relationship between the two institutions. ASPAC is not part of ABFF vice versa. ASPAC was first conducted in Bali in 1991 and becoming an informal biennial gathering of bonsai enthusiast and has been going on sustainably and smoothly until today. Being an informal gathering, ASPAC has no by-laws, no organization structure and as such no membership. The Asian countries attending the informal gathering make decision in a spirit of “Friendship Through Bonsai and Suiseki”. ASPAC has wider geographic coverage (Asia Pacific Countries) while ABFF is limited to ASEAN plus Korea.

At the 9th ASPAC Convention in Bali in 2019, it was agreed to appoint Mr. Paiman as the Chairman of the Board of Advisor of ASPAC and all countries who have conducted ASPAC become member of the Board of Advisor and subsequently I was appointed as the Secretary General of the Board of Advisor. The latest 14th ASPAC was conducted in Taiwan in 2017 and the coming 15th ASPAC will be held in HCMC Vietnam in November 2019.

While no formal relationship, actually all countries have shown their commitment to supporting both ASPAC and ABFF events.

Y.W. Junardy

WBFF Director, Asia Pacific Region

Secretary General of Board of Advisory of ASPAC