Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Enrique A. Manalo attended the inauguration of the new ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC) building in Jakarta on 8 August 2019.

Undersecretary Manalo, who is also the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) Leader of the Philippines, joined Foreign Ministers and representatives from ASEAN Member States, ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi, and other guests in the ASEC building’s inauguration officiated by Indonesian President Joko Widodo. The event also coincided with the 52^nd Anniversary of ASEAN.

“It’s a historic event,” Undersecretary Manalo remarked after depositing President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s message on his wishes and aspirations for ASEAN for the next 25 years in a time capsule to be enshrined in the ASEC building. Undersecretary Manalo also met briefly with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi at the sidelines of the event. 

In his keynote speech, President Widodo expressed hope that in the future more ASEAN activities and meetings would be carried out in the new building to minimize travel of staff and to use resources for other activities. After signing the stone marker, President Widodo symbolically handed over the key of the new ASEC building to ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim.

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