PH Embassy Hosts the 2023 ASEAN Day Celebration in Rome
Philippine Ambassador to Italy Neal Imperial, current Chairperson of the ACR, welcomes the guests during the celebration of the 56th Anniversary of the Founding of ASEAN on 08 August 2023 at the Philippine Embassy in Rome. (photo from Rome PE)
ROME 14 August 2023 - Philippine Ambassador to Italy current Chairperson of the ASEAN Committee in Rome (ACR) Neal Imperial hosted the celebration of the 56th Anniversary of the Founding of ASEAN on 08 August 2023 at the Philippine Embassy in Rome. The ACR is composed of the Embassies of Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Philippine Embassy in Rome is the chair of the ACR from July to December 2023.
The celebration started with the singing of the ASEAN anthem, followed by the remarks of Ambassador Imperial and the Guest of Honor, Ms. Alessandra Schiavo, Deputy Director General for the Countries of Asia and Oceania of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
In his remarks, Ambassador Imperial highlighted the “convening power” of ASEAN, its unique ability to bring together, face-to-face, leaders and security officials from partner countries in various fora that allow dialogue and polite debate to take place on security issues, while maintaining ASEAN’s centrality in regional mechanisms. He also underscored that ASEAN remains an area of high economic growth, and is now the first largest economy in the world with a combined GDP of over USD 3.6 trillion in 2022.
He conveyed that ASEAN is working on strengthening its engagement with external partners, including Italy, noting that the latter became ASEAN Development Partner in September 2020. He added that the ACR welcomes Italy’s pivot to Southeast Asia as a strategic part of the Indo-Pacific, and its numerous initiatives to reach out to ASEAN as highlighted in the 2022 Italian Contribution to the EU Strategy for the Indo-Pacific.
Deputy Director General Schiavo, in her remarks, said that bilateral relationships of Italy with ASEAN member states have grown stronger and wider in all sectors, and conveyed that Italy is committed to developing its partnership with ASEAN.
She affirmed that ASEAN is a key player in securing the regional security architecture and promoting the values of pluralism and tolerance against the crisis that undermine its centrality, and conveyed Italy’s desire to support the key role ASEAN plays in the Indopacific as ASEAN’s Development Partner. She shared that Italy is currently working on the implementation of new projects with ASEAN in various fields.
A cake-cutting ceremony was held followed by the dinner reception. Traditional dishes of Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam were served. The embassies of said countries also loaned some cultural items for an exhibit curated by the Philippine Embassy in Rome for the event, highlighting the rich cultural heritage of the ten countries of ASEAN as well as the similarities and cultural ties of ASEAN member states.
During dinner, the Rome-based Pinoy Kids Salinlahi Dance Troupe entertained the guests with traditional Filipino dances that bear close affinity to those of other ASEAN countries. The group performed Singkil, Pangalay, and Tinikling.
Ambassadors/Chargés d’Affaires and representatives of some of the ASEAN Dialogue Partners, such as Australia, Canada, China, India, Korea, New Zealand, Russia, United Kingdom, and United States, as well as friends of the ACR such as Global Action, attended the event. END
The Ambassadors and Chargés d’Affaires of the ASEAN Committee in Rome join Philippine Ambassador to Italy Neal Imperial and Deputy Director General Alessandra Schiavo during the cake cutting ceremony at ASEAN Day 2023 celebration at the Philippine Embassy in Rome on 08 August 2023. (L-R) Malaysian Chargé d’Affaires Ahmad Fuad bin Mohd Norzin, Vietnamese Ambassador Duong Hai Hung,Myanmar Ambassador Hmway Hmway Khyne, Deputy Director General Schiavo, Philippine Ambassador Imperial, Thai Ambassador Rommanee Kananurak, and Indonesian Chargé d’Affaires Lefianna Hartati Ferdinandus. (photo from Rome PE)
Exhibit curated by the Philippine Embassy in Rome featuring cultural items from all ASEAN member states in celebration of the 56th Anniversary of the Founding of ASEAN on 08 August
2023. (photo from Rome PE)
Pinoy Kids Salinlahi Dance Troupe perform the Tinikling during the 2023 ASEAN Day
Celebration hosted by the Philippine Embassy in Rome on 08 August 2023 at the chancery. (photo from Rome PE)
For more information, visit https://www.romepe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.facebook.com/PHinItaly/ or https://twitter.com/PHinItaly.