The embassies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries in the US and Spain co-hosted celebrations for the grouping’s 50th founding anniversary on September 16.
At the event in the US, participants reviewed ASEAN’s 50 years of development, relations between ASEAN and the US and ASEAN’s role in current international issues.
ASEAN has witnessed breakthrough development steps over the past five decades, becoming an organisation with the central role in the region, they noted.
The delegates also lauded the ASEAN-US Strategic Partnership on the occasion of the 40th founding anniversary of bilateral relations in 2017.
Over the past 40 years, ASEAN has become an important strategic partner of the US in various fields, including politics, economy, security, science-technology, humanitarian aid and regional and international issues.
The US side affirmed that Washington attaches importance to and supports ASEAN’s centrality in the region as well as its efforts to build the ASEAN Community and promoting ASEAN-US relations in the time to come.
The same day, the ASEAN Family Day was held in Spain by the embassies of Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Zainal Abidin Bakar of Malaysia, which is currently Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Madrid, highlighted the grouping’s great achievements during the last five decades, especially the founding of the ASEAN Community in 2015.
He also emphasised the significance of the ASEAN Family Day this year as it marks the organisation’s 50th founding anniversary and 40 years of ASEAN-European Union relations, offering an opportunity for their people to enhance friendship and understanding.-VNA
