PH Embassy Participates in 56th ASEAN Day Celebration in Mexico City
L-R: H.E. Cheppy T. Wartono, Ambassador of Indonesia; H.E. Lilybeth R. Deapera; H.E. Paisan Rupanichkij, Ambassador of Thailand; H.E. Muzafar Shah Bin Mustafa, Ambassador of Malaysia; H.E. Nguyen Hoanh Nam, Ambassador of Viet Nam.
MEXICO 24 August 2023 – In celebration of the 56th Anniversary of the ASEAN Day, the Philippine Embassy in Mexico led by Ambassador Lilybeth R. Deapera attended the Flag raising ceremony and Lunch Talk on ASEAN and Latin America on 08 August 2023, organized by the Royal Thai Embassy as the current Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Mexico City (ACMC).
The speakers for the talk included H.E. Ambassador Fernando Coimbra of Brazil, H.E. Ambassador Beatriz Sanchez of Chile, and Director General Fernando Gonzalez Saiffe of the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs-Asia Pacific.
Brazil and Chile are sectoral and development partners of ASEAN, respectively. While Mexico is applying to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC).
Ambassador Paisan Rupanichkij of the Royal Thai Embassy in his opening remarks talked about the history of the establishment of ASEAN as well as its accomplishments throughout the years. He also mentioned all the dialogue, development, and sectoral partners of ASEAN.
In his presentation, Ambassador Coimbra of Brazil said that ASEAN and Brazil share several guiding principles such as the principle of non-interference in other States’ internal affairs. He said that its ASEAN partnership has a strategic value to Brazil. He further said that there are three (3) main sectors where ASEAN and Brazil can collaborate: climate change mitigation, sustainable forest management and food security and sustainable agriculture.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Sanchez of Chile explained what it means for Chile as an ASEAN development partner. She said, “for Chile, it is a gesture of friendship that will strengthen ties with ASEAN members in order to contribute to increasing prosperity among our nations, through the opening of new markets.” She then talked about Chile’s commitments as a development partner which are to collaborate with ASEAN member countries to enhance cooperation; promote a constructive dialogue between Latin America and ASEAN and, especially, between ASEAN and the Pacific Alliance; contribute to the maintenance of peace, security and stability in our regions; and develop greater economic-commercial integration in an open international trade system based on clear rules.
As for Director General Gonzalez of the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he said that Mexico recognizes the strategic importance of ASEAN in which they are now strengthening the relationship between Mexico and ASEAN by joining the TAC. He said that for Mexico, “the TAC will help to build a solid and constant political dialogue between Mexico and ASEAN, and to develop cooperation in areas of mutual interest.”
This year’s ASEAN Day celebration was attended by around 40 guests mainly from the diplomatic corps and the ACMC. They had the opportunity to taste the food from five ASEAN member countries in Mexico namely: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam. END
Flag raising ceremony held on 08 August 2023 at the residence of the Ambassador of Thailand in Mexico as the current ACMC Chair, in celebration of the 56th ASEAN Day.
L-R: H.E. Cheppy T. Wartono, Ambassador of Indonesia; H.E. Lilybeth R. Deapera; Director General Fernando Gonzalez Saiffe of the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs; H.E. Paisan Rupanichkij, Ambassador of Thailand; H.E. Muzafar Shah Bin Mustafa, Ambassador of Malaysia; H.E. Nguyen Hoanh Nam, Ambassador of Viet Nam.
For more information, visit https://www.mexicope.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinMexico/.