21 October 2016 – Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom Evan P. Garcia attended the Ditchley Foundation’s conference on “ASEAN: The key to East Asia’s future?” held at the Ditchley Park in Oxfordshire last October 13 to 15. Participants of the conference were members of the diplomatic corps, the academe, think tanks, and from the British government, among others.

Chaired by The Lord Williams of Baglan, a diplomat and a crossbench life peer, the conference was designed to consider the challenges facing ASEAN, including its future direction. Participation to the conference is by invitation only.

During the second plenary session, Ambassador Garcia delivered the opening remarks on the economies of ASEAN, particularly on how it will develop over the next five years.

According to its website, the Ditchley Foundation was established by Sir David Wills in 1958 to advance international learning and to bring transatlantic and other experts together to discuss international issues. The conference programme is designed to address the international policy issues of the day and to bring together experts from different professions to brainstorm on problems urgently needing new solutions. The Foundation holds approximately twelve conferences a year, almost all of them at Ditchley Park. END