PH Embassy Assumes Chairmanship of ASEAN Committee in Washington

Myanmar Ambassador to the United States Aung Lynn hands over the ceremonial ASEAN flag to Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez during the ACW Chairmanship turnover ceremony held at the Philippine Embassy on 02 May 2018.

WASHINGTON, D.C. 08 May 2018 — Myanmar Ambassador to the United States Aung Lynn turns over the ASEAN Committee in Washington (ACW) Chairmanship to Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez in a brief ceremony held at the Carlos P. Romulo Hall of the Philippine Embassy on 02 May 2018.

“I wish to express, on behalf of the ACW, our gratitude to Myanmar for its successful Chairmanship. We recall in particular our most recent meeting with Assistant Secretary Thornton and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Murphy last 22 March 2018. I believe that meeting allowed us to engage in productive and insightful discussion on the state of ASEAN-US relations amongst ourselves and with our friends in the State Department,” stated Ambassador Romualdez.

Following the turnover ceremony was a special meeting with National Security Council (NSC) Senior Director for Asian Affairs Matthew Pottinger and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alex Wong on Indo-Pacific issues and the latest developments in the Korean peninsula.

ASEAN Ambassadors engaged in a meaningful discussion and exchange of views with the two US Government officials, and pledged continued cooperation in achieving peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.

Ambassador Romualdez expressed appreciation to both officials for a very productive dialogue as he concluded the first ACW meeting under the chairmanship of the Philippines. As Chair, the Philippines will lead the ACW in meetings and activities covering ASEAN’s political, economic, and people-to-people cooperation with the United States until August 2018. END

For more information, visit www.washingtonpe.dfa.gov.ph/ www.philippineembassy-usa.org or https://www.facebook.com/philippinesusa @philippinesusa on Twitter

ASEAN Ambassadors meet with National Security Council (NSC) Senior Director for Asian Affairs Matthew Pottinger and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alex Wong at the Philippine Embassy on 02 May 2018.

Group photo of the ASEAN Committee in Washington (ACW) with NSC Senior Director for Asian Affairs Matthew Pottinger (1^st row, 3^rd from left) and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alex Wong (1^st row, rightmost) after a productive meeting on 02 May 2018.