24 September 2015 - The ASEAN Consuls General in Vancouver (ACGV), namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam, met with Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson on September 18.
Mayor Robertson welcomed the ACGV and acknowledged the ASEAN community’s contributions in the multicultural landscape of Vancouver. The mayor was joined by other key officials of the City of Vancouver: Ms. Emma Lee, Director of Community Relations; Ms. Joan Elangovan, Director of the Economic Commission and Asia Pacific Centre; and Ms. Lesley Matthews, Chief of the Office of External Relations and Protocol, at the Vancouver City Hall.
Philippine Consul General Neil Ferrer, as current chair of the ACGV, expressed the group’s appreciation to the mayor for receiving them and commended his exemplary stewardship of the city, especially with Vancouver ranking as one of the most livable cities in the world. Consul General Ferrer briefly introduced the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and underscored the burgeoning ASEAN community in Vancouver. He also drew attention to the fact that Vancouver is the gateway city between Canada and Asia-Pacific countries, with ASEAN-based companies looking for opportunities to increase trade and investment between ASEAN and Canada. END