26 April 2017, Manila - Philippine Ambassador to ASEAN Elizabeth P. Buensuceso today chaired the meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR), starting a series of official meetings that will culminate with the 30^th ASEAN Summit on 29 April.

The CPR discussed their work plan for 2017, reports and recommendations to the ASEAN Senior Officials and ASEAN Ministers, commemorative activities on the 50^th anniversary of ASEAN this year, ASEAN’s relations with its dialogue partners and other external parties, and preparations for the 50^th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and related ministerial meetings in August in Manila.

The meeting, which was also attended by ASEAN Secretariat officials, led by the Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Political Security Community, also exchanged views on possible outcome documents and various initiatives for the 50^th AMM and other ministerial meetings and the 31^st ASEAN Summit in November, which will also be held in the Philippines.

The CPR is composed of the Ambassadors to ASEAN of all 10 ASEAN Member States namely, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Collectively, the CPR members also compose the ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee (ACCC). Most of them also belong to the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (AIPR) Governing Council.

Based in Jakarta, the CPR supports the work of the ASEAN Community Councils and ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies, coordinates with ASEAN National Secretariats and other ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies, liaises with the Secretary-General of ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat on all subjects relevant to its work, and facilitates ASEAN cooperation with external partners.

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