ASEAN COMMITTEE IN NAIROBI CELEBRATES 57TH ASEAN DAY
From left to right: High Commissioner Ruzaimi bin Mohamad of Malaysia, Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang of the Philippines, Director General for Political and Diplomatic Affairs Eliphas Barine of the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of Kenya, Ambassador Morakot Janemathukorn of Thailand (current ACN Chair), and Ambassador Mohamad Hery Saripudin of Indonesia do the “ASEAN Handshake”.
NAIROBI, 07 August 2024 – The ASEAN Committee in Nairobi (ACN) celebrated the 57th founding anniversary of ASEAN at the Royal Thai Embassy in Nairobi, highlighting the enduring spirit of regional cooperation and unity among the ASEAN member states.
Philippine Ambassador to Kenya Marie Charlotte G. Tang joined her counterparts from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand in welcoming guests from the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs (MFDA), the diplomatic corps, ASEAN diaspora in Kenya, business, universities, and the media.
The celebration began with the playing of the ASEAN anthem, “The ASEAN Way”, followed by the Kenyan national anthem.
In her opening remarks, H.E. Morakot Janemathukorn, Ambassador of Thailand to Kenya and current ACN Chair, highlighted that under Lao PDR’s chairship and theme “ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience”, ASEAN continues to strengthen its community, including by tackling transformative issues such as digitalization and climate change, and charting its future, with ASEAN’s brightest minds deliberating on the ASEAN Vision 2045.
The ACN Chair also emphasized that the ACN will continuously promote ASEAN’s interest and identity in Kenya through awareness-raising activities, such as the increasingly popular ASEAN Festivals whereby ACN members showcase Southeast Asian culture through culinary experiences and handicrafts and enhancing cooperation with Kenya.
On behalf of the Kenyan MFDA, Director General for Political and Diplomatic Affairs Eliphas Barine highlighted the positive attributes of regional integration in enhancing multilateralism, peace and security, and unlocking the potential for regions to learn from and share experiences with each other. He also said that Kenya looks forward to strengthening cooperation with ASEAN countries in concrete and sustainable innovative ways.
Guests were treated to traditional music, and a display of culinary delights including puto, chicken shanghai, beef rendang, bakso, teh tarik, ma hor, and kanom pang na gai from the region, reflecting the vibrant cultures of the ASEAN community. END
Daystar University students and personnel with the ACN Ambassadors
The ASEAN Family in Nairobi, Kenya with guests
Guests enjoying different Southeast Asian cuisines
