“Stronger ASEAN - Key to Bright Future of ASEAN Peoples,” says SG Minh during 46th Anniversary Celebration
The ASEAN Secretariat, led by Secretary General H.E. Le Luong Minh, observed the regional body’s 46th founding anniversary with festive events in the Indonesian capital. According to SG Minh, “ASEAN needs to further demonstrate the strength and resilience that lie at our core. With that and the continued support and cooperation of our partners, we can be sure of a vibrant and bright future for ASEAN and our peoples.”
The people-centered celebration was evident with the participation of young people. The ASEAN Community, a Digital Community made up of 40 dedicated volunteer students from ASEAN Member States, announced the winners of the 2013 “Celebrate Your ASEANality” Photo Contest. After only 2 years, their aseancommunity.org Facebook page and twitter accounts have nearly 200,000 friends and followers. The site was so successful that a company has offered to buy it but the administrators’ reply was, “Thank you, but our community is not for sale.”
Youth participation in the ASEAN community was further highlighted via a stellar wushu performance. Ms. Susyana Tjhan, an Indonesian athlete who won the gold medal in the 2011 South East Asia Games wowed the audience with her wushu performance.
In his keynote remarks before Member States representatives and other dignitaries, SG Minh recalled ASEAN’s key achievements particularly the economic and political stability that has characterized the progress of the region in the last four decades.
For his part, the Indonesian Vice Minister For Foreign Affairs, H.E. Wardana remarked that in the last four decades “ASEAN’s cooperation in many areas has been growing very rapidly. ASEAN has been able to transform South East Asia from a region full of conflict and divided by cold war tensions to become region of peace.” He added that “with its outward looking approach, ASEAN now is at the forefront of a regional architecture that promotes the Asia-Pacific’s peace and stability.” Speaking on behalf of ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners, New Zealand Ambassador to ASEAN Mr. David Taylor observed that “If the five founding leaders of ASEAN were with us for today’s celebration, I think they would be amazed.” “Amazed that their vision of a peaceful, secure and united South East Asia has come to pass, “ Ambassador Taylor noted.
The celebration was capped by the launch of a book on the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration which was symbolically given to key stakeholder representatives followed by a panel discussion on ASEAN community building through the implementation of the Declaration.
The people-centered celebration was evident with the participation of young people. The ASEAN Community, a Digital Community made up of 40 dedicated volunteer students from ASEAN Member States, announced the winners of the 2013 “Celebrate Your ASEANality” Photo Contest. After only 2 years, their aseancommunity.org Facebook page and twitter accounts have nearly 200,000 friends and followers. The site was so successful that a company has offered to buy it but the administrators’ reply was, “Thank you, but our community is not for sale.”
Youth participation in the ASEAN community was further highlighted via a stellar wushu performance. Ms. Susyana Tjhan, an Indonesian athlete who won the gold medal in the 2011 South East Asia Games wowed the audience with her wushu performance.
In his keynote remarks before Member States representatives and other dignitaries, SG Minh recalled ASEAN’s key achievements particularly the economic and political stability that has characterized the progress of the region in the last four decades.
For his part, the Indonesian Vice Minister For Foreign Affairs, H.E. Wardana remarked that in the last four decades “ASEAN’s cooperation in many areas has been growing very rapidly. ASEAN has been able to transform South East Asia from a region full of conflict and divided by cold war tensions to become region of peace.” He added that “with its outward looking approach, ASEAN now is at the forefront of a regional architecture that promotes the Asia-Pacific’s peace and stability.” Speaking on behalf of ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners, New Zealand Ambassador to ASEAN Mr. David Taylor observed that “If the five founding leaders of ASEAN were with us for today’s celebration, I think they would be amazed.” “Amazed that their vision of a peaceful, secure and united South East Asia has come to pass, “ Ambassador Taylor noted.
The celebration was capped by the launch of a book on the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration which was symbolically given to key stakeholder representatives followed by a panel discussion on ASEAN community building through the implementation of the Declaration.
