JOINT PRESS STATEMENT
EMBASSY OF BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA
EMBASSY OF MALAYSIA
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
ROYAL THAI EMBASSY
56th Anniversary of the founding of ASEAN
G-NEWS (DILI) – We, the ASEAN Heads of Mission in Dili, Timor-Leste, join the rest of the region in celebrating the 56th anniversary of the founding of ASEAN. On this momentous occasion in our community, we jointly hosted a flag raising ceremony and reception at the grounds of the Embassy of the Philippines on 11 August 2023.
We welcomed the Guest of Honor, His Excellency Jose Ramos-Horta, President of Timor-Leste, who gave his remarks, His Excellency Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, and other high-level officials including Ministers and Vice Ministers of the Ninth (IX) Constitutional Government, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of international organizations, representatives of overseas communities, members of the press, and the private sector.
Following the end of the official ceremony, they were able to partake in a breakfast filled with dishes that show the richness and diversity of Southeast Asian cuisine.
As we celebrate 56 years of ASEAN, we look back on the achievements of our organization and its evolution throughout the decades. We also marvel at its resilience and innovativeness in the face of regional and global challenges, especially the recent COVID-19 pandemic that has tested our resolve as an organization and as a regional community. We have learned to adapt and thrive in the midst of tough conditions in pursuit of our shared goals for the benefit of the peoples of ASEAN and external partners.
Under the theme “ASEAN Matters: Epicenter of Growth” by Indonesia, as ASEAN Chair for 2023, we envision ASEAN as an organization that matters and is deeply relevant for its people,the Indo-Pacific region, and the world, and a prosperous Southeast Asia that serves as a center for regional growth and an engine for global growth.
The year 2023 has been a milestone year as Timor-Leste is now undertaking the necessary work to achieve full ASEAN Membership, in line with the Roadmap for Timor-Leste’s full membership in ASEAN. We reaffirm our commitment to provide capacity building assistance to Timor-Leste to accelerate its progress in the process of accession.
We wish to acknowledge the contributions of all ASEAN Missions in Dili in making the joint hosting of this celebration possible. We also wish to acknowledge the support given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste to our joint endeavor.
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