50th Founding Anniversary of ASEAN Commemorated in Muscat, Oman
The ASEAN Heads of Missions accredited to Oman (from left): H.E. Haji Sulaini bin Haji Said (Brunei),
H.E. Shahril Effendi Abd. Ghany (Malaysia), H.E. Narciso T. Castañeda (Philippines), H.E. Musthofa Taufik Abdul Latif (Indonesia), H.E. Jesday Katavetin (Thailand), and Consul General Richard Grosse (Singapore)
03 October 2017 MUSCAT - In commemoration of the 50th founding anniversary of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the ASEAN Committee in Muscat (ACM), composed of the Embassies of Brunei Darussalam, Republic of Indonesia, Malaysia, Republic of the Philippines, Kingdom of Thailand, and the Consulate General of Republic of Singapore, in the Sultanate of Oman hosted the ASEAN Day Dinner Reception on September 27 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Muscat.
The ASEAN Heads of Missions with the Guest of Honor, H.E. Dr. Ali bin Mas’oud bin Ali Al-Sunaidi,
Minister of Commerce and Industry (center)
H.E. Dr. Ali bin Mas’oud bin Ali Al-Sunaidi, Minister of Commerce and Industry, graced the occasion as Guest of Honor. Other members of the Omani delegation to the reception were H.E. Ahmed Suleiman Al-Maimany, Member of State Council; H.E. Dr. Wafa Salim Al-Harrasiyya, Member of State Council; H.E. Tawfiq Abdul Hussein Al-Lawaty, Member of Shura Council; H.E. Said Hamad Al-Sa’adi, Member of Shura Council; H.E. Ambassador Sheikh Muhammed Abdullah Al-Qatabi, Head of ASEAN Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and H.E. Ambassador Omar Hamad Al Saqtari, Head of Arab Cooperation Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Approximately 300 guests from the diplomatic community, Omani government, private sector, and ASEAN communities attended the event.
In his welcome remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Oman Narciso T. Castañeda, current Chair of ACM, highlighted the achievements of ASEAN guided by the motto of “One Vision, One Identity and One ASEAN community.” He emphasized the region’s transformation into a caring and sharing community and its economic development that benefit its people. He also said that ASEAN has successfully established partnerships with other countries through multi-track mechanisms such as the ASEAN Dialogue Partnership, the ASEAN Plus Three, the ASEAN Regional Forum, the East Asia Summit, ASEAN-GCC and other ASEAN-led programs that play critical roles in preserving the momentum of economic development and peace in the region. He conveyed his appreciation to the Sultanate of Oman for its continued support to the activities of ACM to promote the spirit of ASEAN.
The event was highlighted by the rendition of the ASEAN anthem by the Philippine School in Oman Chorale, which included two Indonesian students, and cultural performances from Brunei (Traditional Dress and Costume Show), Indonesia (Tari Piring or “Plate Dance”), Malaysia (Borneo Hornbill Dance), Philippines (Tinikling or “Bamboo Dance”), Thailand (Rabam Ching or “Cymbals Dance”) and a joint presentation from Singapore and Malaysia (Silat or “Ancient Martial Art”).
ASEAN desserts were also showcased in the event. The Philippine’s own palitaw (sweet rice cake), puto kutsinta (steamed rice cake) and sapin-sapin (layered glutinous rice) were served for guests.
Brochures on the culture, tourism and trade of individual ASEAN countries were also on hand for the information of the guests. END
For more information, visit www.muscatpe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinOman.
Top photo: The Philippine School in Oman (PSO) Chorale, including two Indonesian students, sang the ASEAN Anthem with PSO Principal Herminia E. Garcia (front row, extreme right) and Assistant Principal Norlinda Y. Cura (front row, second from left). Bottom photo: Traditional dress and costume show from Brunei