ACS Discuss ASEAN Integration Mechanism In Round Table

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (Bernama) -- The Diplomatic Academy of Chile in collaboration with the ASEAN Committee in Santiago (ACS) hosted a round table forum on Wednesday at the Palacio Edwards Seminar Hall of the Diplomatic Academy. A statement here Friday said ACS members who participated in the event were Ambassador of Malaysia Dr Mohamad Rameez Yahaya, Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Ngo Due Thang, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand, Saroj Thanasunti, Ambassador of the republic of Indonesia, Philemon Arobaya and Charge d'Affaires of the republic of the Philippines, Raisa Mabayo Abrillo. The roundtable forum 'ASEAN and its 50 years: a view from Chile' discussed ASEAN integration mechanism and its core values of mutual respect for sovereignty and national identity. During the forum, Dr Rameez spoke on the importance of people to people link as well as state to state link, whether in bilateral or multilateral fora. He also spoke on the importance of reducing economic disparities between member states of ASEAN towards achieving the ASEAN Economic Community; and to ensure KL Declaration on ASEAN 2025 will be achievable. Dr Rameez also informed the audience of the Joint Communique of the 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane, Laos (adopted on July 24, 2016), especially that of the agreement by ASEAN Foreign Ministers to the request of Chile in acceding to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC). "The accession of Chile to TAC will further enhance relations between member states of ASEAN and Chile, especially those already having their embassies in Santiago," Dr Rameez said. Meanwhile, former President of the Republic of Chile and also Ambassador-at-large for the Asia Pacific, Eduardo Frei Ruiz Tagle highlighted the crucial role ASEAN economies play in Chilean foreign trade, as well as the deeper ties being forged between ASEAN and members of the Pacific Alliance. He said the important role that the ASEAN Committee in Santiago was playing a role to better promote relations between Chile and ASEAN. The plan for re-activation of the ACS initiated by the Embassy of Malaysia in Chile last November has borne major improvements and success for the embarkation of better relations between ASEAN states in Santiago with that of Chile. There have been as many as ten activities held by the ACS ever since last year (November) with major ones like Meeting between ACS and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Chile (February 2016), Feria De Asean (April 2016) and ASEAN Tourism Fair (June 2016). The ACS comprised of Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam Embassies in Santiago. About 200 people attended the forum, including diplomats, academicians and journalists. -- BERNAMA