PH Mission to ASEAN Joins 50^th Anniversary Celebration at the ASEAN Secretariat

Members of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR), led by Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso (5^th from right), link hands in the ASEAN way with Indonesian President H.E. Joko Widodo (7^th from right), Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman (6^th from left), Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi (7^th from left) and ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh (6^th from right) during the celebration of the 50^th Anniversary of ASEAN in Jakarta.

24 August 2017 JAKARTA - The 50^th Anniversary of ASEAN was celebrated at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia on August 11. With the theme “ASEAN@50:Celebrating the People’s Community, the celebration was attended by Indonesian President H.E. Joko Widodo, ASEAN Secretary-General Le Luong Minh, Indonesia Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi, Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato’ Sri Anifah bin Haji Aman, Former Secretaries-General of ASEAN Tan Sri Dato Ajit Singh and Ambassador Ong Keng Yong, the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR), and members of the diplomatic corps.

President Widodo, in his key note address, remarked on the substantial progress ASEAN has achieved throughout its history and its continued importance as a regional organization in making Southeast Asia stable and prosperous. The President also turned over the land ownership certificate of the previous Jakarta Mayor’s office to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, which will enable the expansion of the headquarters of the ASEAN Secretariat.

Secretary-General Le Luong Minh, in his remarks, reflected on the achievements marking the golden anniversary of ASEAN, notably its process of Community-building in three key aspects: regional peace and security, economic integration and institution building.

The ASEAN Day celebrations also included a program entitled “Celebrating the Artistry of ASEAN Community” which featured musical performances and Eco Weavers’ Fashion Show. Another highlight was the ASEAN Food Festival, organized by the ASEAN Women’s Circle (AWC), which featured cuisine of ASEAN Member States, as well as those of Dialogue Partners. The Philippine Mission to ASEAN participated in the ASEAN Food Festival by contributing chicken adobo, banana turon, polvoron and cashew tarts. END

Mme. Doris Novicio, Vice-Chair of the ASEAN Women’s Circle (AWC) (left), and Ms. Sinta Ekawati, AWC ExeCom Member from Indonesia at the Philippine corner of the ASEAN Food Festival