Vietnamese Ambassador to the Philippines Tran Quoc Hai (first, right) and other ambassadors at the ceremony (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was observedacross the world on August 8 with the participation of diplomats from ASEANmember states.
The Patousai Arch of Laos was lit up onAugust 8 to mark ASEAN’s 50th birthday and 20 years since thecountry joined the ten-member group, attracting 200 officials in charge ofASEAN affairs of Lao ministries and agencies and representatives of embassiesin Laos, among others.
This ispart of the ASEAN Landmark Lighting event, an initiative of the Philippines -ASEAN Chair 2017 - aiming to raise public awareness of ASEAN.
Major sitesin ASEAN member countries were lit up red, blue and yellow or decorated withthe bloc’s icon.
Addressingthe lighting ceremony, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office AlounkeoKittikhoun said ASEAN has focused on intensifying regional connectivity andbuilding the ASEAN Community, which officially took shape on December 31, 2015.
At the sametime, ASEAN has stepped up ties with foreign countries and expanded dialogueswith world powers through ASEAN-initiated mechanisms, helping enhance mutualunderstanding and strategic trust, and create peace, stability and cooperation,for the development of the region and the world, he said.
Theminister said over the past two decades, ASEAN has become an important pillarin Laos’ foreign policy, adding that the country has participated in ASEAN’sactivities and expanded relations with nations outside the group, benefittingthe country and its citizens.
The sameday, the Philippines Embassy in Israel held a ceremony to mark ASEAN’s foundinganniversary. Vietnamese Ambassador Tran Quoc Hai and representatives from otherembassies of ASEAN nations in Israel attended the event.
Theparticipants reviewed challenges ASEAN has faced over the past half a centuryto become a successful cooperation organisation.
In hisremarks, Philippine Ambassador Neal Imperial said ASEAN has made decisions viaconsensus to ensure all of its members have their voices heard.
He stressedthat the common perceptions reached by the members and their mutualunderstanding and trust have helped ASEAN overcome challenges and threats toits centrality.
As ASEAN Chair,the Philippines, with the support of other ASEAN nations, has made every effortto boost the strength of the group, he said.
EchoingNeal Imperial’s views, Ambassador Hai said intra-bloc solidarity and consensusare the key factors to maintaining peace and stability, and the foundations forASEAN to build a prosperous, people-centred community.
In Algeria,a ceremony was also held in the capital of Algiers with the ambassadors ofVietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia, and other guests in attendance.
Speaking atthe event, Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Quoc Tru highlighted ASEAN’s successes inenhancing cooperation between its members, as well as between ASEAN andpartners outside the region, contributing to promoting regional peace andstability.
ASEAN’s initiativeshave contributed to enhancing connectivity between Southeast Asia and otherregions, and brought new dynamism in inter-regional dialogues and cooperation,he said.
On theoccasion, participants had a chance to watch films about ASEAN countries andenjoy food from Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia.
ASEAN’sbirthday was also celebrated in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on August 8, with the ambassadorsof Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines attending.
The eventfeatured art performances and dishes from the five countries. A photoexhibition introducing the ASEAN Community and its diverse culture also openedat the headquarters of the Argentinean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The ASEANCommittee in Cairo, Egypt also hosted a ceremony to mark ASEAN’s 50th anniversary, bringing together representatives from embassies of Singapore,Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Brunei, the Philippines, Myanmar andVietnam.
Addressingthe event, Vietnamese Ambassador Do Hoang Long noted the thriving relationshipbetween Egypt and ASEAN, which has been demonstrated through visits to severalASEAN countries over the past years by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
He said theVietnamese Embassy will take over the rotating chair of the ASEAN committee inCairo in 2018.
ASEAN’s 50th birthday was cheered in a ceremony hosted by the embassy of Thailand inBangladesh on August 8.
Founded in1967, the 10-member ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.-VNA
The Patousai Arch of Laos was lit up onAugust 8 to mark ASEAN’s 50th birthday and 20 years since thecountry joined the ten-member group, attracting 200 officials in charge ofASEAN affairs of Lao ministries and agencies and representatives of embassiesin Laos, among others.
This ispart of the ASEAN Landmark Lighting event, an initiative of the Philippines -ASEAN Chair 2017 - aiming to raise public awareness of ASEAN.
Major sitesin ASEAN member countries were lit up red, blue and yellow or decorated withthe bloc’s icon.
Addressingthe lighting ceremony, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office AlounkeoKittikhoun said ASEAN has focused on intensifying regional connectivity andbuilding the ASEAN Community, which officially took shape on December 31, 2015.
At the sametime, ASEAN has stepped up ties with foreign countries and expanded dialogueswith world powers through ASEAN-initiated mechanisms, helping enhance mutualunderstanding and strategic trust, and create peace, stability and cooperation,for the development of the region and the world, he said.
Theminister said over the past two decades, ASEAN has become an important pillarin Laos’ foreign policy, adding that the country has participated in ASEAN’sactivities and expanded relations with nations outside the group, benefittingthe country and its citizens.
The sameday, the Philippines Embassy in Israel held a ceremony to mark ASEAN’s foundinganniversary. Vietnamese Ambassador Tran Quoc Hai and representatives from otherembassies of ASEAN nations in Israel attended the event.
Theparticipants reviewed challenges ASEAN has faced over the past half a centuryto become a successful cooperation organisation.
In hisremarks, Philippine Ambassador Neal Imperial said ASEAN has made decisions viaconsensus to ensure all of its members have their voices heard.
He stressedthat the common perceptions reached by the members and their mutualunderstanding and trust have helped ASEAN overcome challenges and threats toits centrality.
As ASEAN Chair,the Philippines, with the support of other ASEAN nations, has made every effortto boost the strength of the group, he said.
EchoingNeal Imperial’s views, Ambassador Hai said intra-bloc solidarity and consensusare the key factors to maintaining peace and stability, and the foundations forASEAN to build a prosperous, people-centred community.
In Algeria,a ceremony was also held in the capital of Algiers with the ambassadors ofVietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia, and other guests in attendance.
Speaking atthe event, Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Quoc Tru highlighted ASEAN’s successes inenhancing cooperation between its members, as well as between ASEAN andpartners outside the region, contributing to promoting regional peace andstability.
ASEAN’s initiativeshave contributed to enhancing connectivity between Southeast Asia and otherregions, and brought new dynamism in inter-regional dialogues and cooperation,he said.
On theoccasion, participants had a chance to watch films about ASEAN countries andenjoy food from Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia.
ASEAN’sbirthday was also celebrated in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on August 8, with the ambassadorsof Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines attending.
The eventfeatured art performances and dishes from the five countries. A photoexhibition introducing the ASEAN Community and its diverse culture also openedat the headquarters of the Argentinean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The ASEANCommittee in Cairo, Egypt also hosted a ceremony to mark ASEAN’s 50th anniversary, bringing together representatives from embassies of Singapore,Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Brunei, the Philippines, Myanmar andVietnam.
Addressingthe event, Vietnamese Ambassador Do Hoang Long noted the thriving relationshipbetween Egypt and ASEAN, which has been demonstrated through visits to severalASEAN countries over the past years by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
He said theVietnamese Embassy will take over the rotating chair of the ASEAN committee inCairo in 2018.
ASEAN’s 50th birthday was cheered in a ceremony hosted by the embassy of Thailand inBangladesh on August 8.
Founded in1967, the 10-member ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.-VNA
VNA
