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ASEAN seminars
launched in the Philippines
ILOILO CITY, Philippines - To observe the 35th
anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN), the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs,
Department of Trade and Industry and the Office of the
Press Secretary (OPS) gathered to conduct the ASEAN Information
Seminar Series (AISS) beginning here on Friday.
ASEAN is composed of the Philippines, Thailand,
Singapore, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Indonesia,
Brunei and Vietnam. These countries have bonded together
in the hope of fostering the much needed stability and
security in the region. The organization was established
on August 8, 1967, by five foreign ministers at the
Thai Department of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok.
Originally, it was conceptualized by
five foreign ministers, including Adam Malik (Indonesia),
the late Narciso Ramos (Philippines) Tungku Abdul Razak
(Malaysia), S Rajaratnam (Singapore) and Thanat Khoman
(Thailand).
Subsequently, Brunei
joined in 1984, Vietnam in 1995, and Laos and Myanmar in
1997. In 1999, Cambodia became the 10th and final member
of the ASEAN fulfilling the dream of the founders to
unite all Southeast Asian nations.
The special
forum will discuss ASEAN cooperation, structure, major
achievements, programs, major thrusts and issues and
challenges affecting the ASEAN region in the light of
increased globalization.
The series of seminars
will provide specific ASEAN initiatives and Philippine
participation in trade like the acceleration of the
ASEAN Free Trade Area and finding solution to the
trading of illegal drugs in the region.
The AISS
was organized and now being implemented by the ASEAN
Information Desk chaired by press secretary Ignacio R
Bunye with members coming from the attached bureaus and
agencies of the OPS, in partnership with the Office of
ASEAN Affairs.
(Asia Pulse/PNA)
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