Caption: Clockwise from left: 1. Ambassador Htut opens the Briefing; 2. DG De La Vega discusses the Philippine Chairmanship of ASEAN 2017; 3. MP Arif Virani, Permanent Representative Buensuceso, DG De La Vega, MP Alghabra, DG Ian Burchett, Ambassador Petronila Garcia, and Assistant Secretary Maria Andrelita Austria; 4. Q&A with the audience; 5 and 6. PR Buensuceso talks about ASEAN – Canada Partnership.
9 May 2017, Ottawa – Officials from Canada’s Parliament and Federal Government, members of the diplomatic and consular corps, academe, civil society, students, and media gathered at the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa today to attend a briefing conducted by the Philippines’ top officials to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The briefing, titled “ASEAN@50: Partnering for Change, Engaging the World,” was led by H.E. Elizabeth Buensuceso, Philippine Permanent Representative to ASEAN, and the Honorable Hellen De La Vega, Philippine Director General for ASEAN Affairs and Acting SOM Leader.
The briefing was organized by the Philippine Embassy upon the request of the ASEAN Committee in Ottawa (ACO) in line with the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN and the 40th Anniversary of ASEAN – Canada Dialogue relations. Myanmar Ambassador Kyaw Myo Htut, current Chair of ACO, welcomed the participants to the briefing and underscored the role of the ACO in strengthening ASEAN – Canada Dialogue relations since 1977.
Ambassador Buensuceso spoke on the topic ASEAN and Canada: Partners for Peace, Progress, and Prosperity, and provided an overview of the history and work of ASEAN since its founding in 1967. Director General De La Vega discussed the Philippines’ Chairmanship of ASEAN 2017 and gave a comprehensive presentation on the country’s thematic priorities for the Chairmanship, namely, (1) a people-oriented and people-centred ASEAN, (2) peace and stability in the region, (3) maritime and security cooperation, (4) inclusive, innovation-led growth, (5) ASEAN’s resiliency, and (6) ASEAN: a model of regionalism and a global player.
Members of the audience expressed their appreciation for the event, noting that they gained a broader understanding of the work of ASEAN and its impact on the region. END
