H.E. Mr. I Gusti Wesaka Puja, Ambassador of Indonesia, Madam Rusdijana Puja, Mrs. Linda Sim, spouse of the Ambassador of Malaysia, H.E. Mr. Ahmad Nazri Yusof, Ambassador of Malaysia, Charge d’Affairs Mr. Pham Toan Thang, Embassy of Viet Nam, Mr. Arjen Van den Berg, Deputy Director, Asia Department, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ambassador of Thailand, H.E. Mrs. Eksiri Pintaruchi, Mr. Thongvut Pintaruchi, spouse of the Ambassador of Thailand and Chargé d’affaires Ms. Shirley E. Banquicio, Embassy of the Philippines.
By Roy Lie Atjam.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN marks its 51st anniversary. It is for this reason that the Ambassador of Viet Nam, Chairwoman of the ASEAN Committee The Hague, H.E. Ngo Thi Hoa hosted an ASEAN Flag Hoisting ceremony on the premises of the Embassy of Vietnam.
I was on the bright sunny morning of Wednesday 8 August 2018. ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi said, “ASEAN Day is about celebrating solidarity across borders and what this means to our people, by way of enhancing community outreach and cooperation whether economic, political-security, or socio-cultural.”
After the hoisting of the flag, Charge d’Affairs Mr. Pham Toan Thang (Vietnam) delivered his remarks followed by a photo session of Ambassadors, Charge d’Affairs and their spouses.
Charge d’Affairs Mr Pham Toan Thang related, Allow me, first of all, to welcome distinguished Ambassadors and delegates to this ASEAN flag – hoisting ceremony at the Embassy of Vietnam in The Hague. We proudly look back on the persistent effort that Southeast Asian countries have gone through together in the past half century as we continue to move together toward a brighter future of the common ASEAN Community.
The ASEAN Vision 2025 confirms the commitments of member states to strengthening and deepening ASEAN linkages and building a rules – based, people – oriented and people – centered community with significant contributions to the global community.
As a proactive and responsible member, Vietnam will honor all its integration commitments and work together with other member states to realize the ultimate goal of an ASEAN Community.
In The Hague, ASEAN Committee continues to play an active role in consolidating solidarity and promoting ASEAN image in the Netherlands. Since its establishment in October 2015, the committee has convened regular meetings, organized numerous cultural, economic and diplomatic events in many cities in the Netherlands, thus enhancing the understanding about ASEAN as well as the cooperation between ASEAN and the Dutch- and international partners.
I am absolutely positive about the prospects of ASEAN. As the global landscape is filled with changes and complexities, the outcomes of the overall ASEAN’s cooperation is a testament to the right approach of ASEAN, again for the benefit of our people and for the future of our prosperity.
May ASEAN remain strong forever!
May people in the region enjoy lasting peace and prosperity!
May the friendship and cooperation between ASEAN and friends and partners be forever strong!
ALC (ASEAN Ladies’ Circle) Chairwoman, Madam Rusdijana Puja was presented a flower bouquet. Subsequently, a musical performance with contributions from the five ASEAN Embassies followed.- Indonesia performance, Martial Arts demonstration by students of the Indonesian School.
- Malaysia performance an all-male traditional choir gave an excellent rendition of the renowned “Anak Tupaia” (small squirrel).
- The Philippines Embassy performed a popular Original Pilipino Music(OPM) piece entitled Manila, Manila, by the Filipino pop rock band “Hotdog”. The song Manila, Manila, gives millions of Filipinos who are away from their families the sounds and sights of the
country’s premier and capital city, Manila sang in delightful rhythms
intermixed with catchy lyrics of Tagalog and Tagalog-English or “Taglish”. - Thailand performance, a classical folk song entitled Siam the land of smiles, composed by the legendary Thai folk singer the late Ms. Pumpuang Duangjun.
- Viet Nam performance, a song by Ms. Nguyen Minh Phuong
An ASEAN potluck reception followed, an array of tasty dishes including the famous Thai Green Curry.
ASEAN Day 2018 in The Hague, was once more a demonstration of solidarity, ASEAN’s hallmark!
