ASEAN, Mexico Renew Commitment to Deepen Cooperation

From left: Thai Ambassador Paisan Rupanichkij, Indonesian Ambassador Cheppy T. Wartono, Director General for Asia Pacific of the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs Counsellor Fernando Gonzalez-Saiffe Gonzalez, Philippine Ambassador-designate to Mexico Lilybeth R. Deapera, Malaysian Ambassador Muzafar Shah Bin Mustafa, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Hoahn Nam. (Mexico PE photo)

MEXICO 24 May 2023 – Philippine Ambassador-designate Lilybeth R. Deapera led the ASEAN Committee in Mexico City (ACMC) as its current Chair, to a dialogue with Counsellor Fernando González-Saiffe González, Director General for Asia Pacific of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) of Mexico on 17 May 2023.

As one of the proposed activities under the Philippine Chairmanship of the ACMC, the meeting created an opportunity for both sides to share ideas on ways to strengthen ASEAN-Mexico relations, as well as discuss bilateral and regional issues of mutual concern.

In her remarks, Ambassador-designate Deapera highlighted the recent gains of the ASEAN, including the admittance, in principle, of East Timor as its 11th member; the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic; the entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP); and the successful conclusion of the 42nd ASEAN Summit held in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia from 10 to 11 May 2023.

The five members of the Committee, namely the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Viet Nam which maintain a resident embassy in Mexico City, were able to exchange views on the significant role played by the ASEAN in the international arena, and the way forward on its relations with Mexico which is considered as an important and strategic ally of the Association in Latin America.

To this end, the ACMC welcomed Mexico´s request to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC). Once approved, it will solidify ASEAN-Mexico cooperation for the mutual benefit of our peoples. Moreover, both sides may further cooperate in the areas of trade and investment, migration, peace and security, culture and tourism.

ASEAN´s nominal GDP in 2021 was at USD 3.4 trillion, which already surpassed the pre-pandemic level of USD 3.2 trillion in 2019. As one of the fastest growing regions, it attracted a total of USD 175 billion in foreign direct investment, making it the third largest FDI recipient in the world after the US and China.

According to the Bank of Mexico, six out of the 10 member countries of the ASEAN are included in the top 30 largest trading partners of Mexico in 2022, with the Philippines holding the 4th spot (19th overall). END

For more information, visit https://www.mexicope.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinMexico/.