Jakarta. 14 August 2015. Mr. Izuru Kobayashi, Chief Operating Officer and Director General of Administration and Personnel Department of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), called on Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso on 13 August 2015 to discuss possible areas of cooperation between the Mission and ERIA.
Ambassador Buensuceso told Mr. Kobayashi that the Philippines has commenced preparations for its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2017 wherein the Philippines will work, towards, among others, the advancement of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, the role of the ASEAN Foundation in reaching the ordinary people and promoting greater awareness about ASEAN, and the implementation of the ASEAN Communication Master Plan (ACMP).
Ambassador Buensuceso noted that the Philippines’ hosting coincides with the 50th anniversary of the founding of ASEAN as a regional organization. She stated that the Philippines will work closely with ERIA in finding innovative ways to celebrate this important milestone.
Ambassador Buensuceso thanked Mr. Kobayashi particularly for ERIA’s role in providing high quality policy studies for ASEAN and encouraged ERIA to reach a wider audience to maximize the use of the results of the studies.
Mr. Kobayashi highlighted that ERIA will work with the Philippines to support its Chairmanship particularly developing commemorative documents and activities to celebrate ASEAN’s 50thanniversary.
ERIA is an international organization based in Jakarta, Indonesia established in 2007 through an agreement among heads of government at the 3rd East Asia Summit in Singapore. ERIA works closely with the ASEAN Secretariat, researchers and research centers in Southeast and East Asian region to undertake analytical research and provide policy recommendations.
