Thousands Celebrate 40Th Anniversary Of EU-ASEAN Relations

JAKARTA, May 9 (Antara) - Some 1,700 people here, Sunday, celebrated the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the EU-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Dialogue Relations and the ASEAN's 50th anniversary by participating in the first-ever EU-ASEAN Run 2017. "Today, (we are) not only celebrating 40 years of EU-ASEAN bilateral relations, but we are also honoring the 50 years of ASEAN's establishment as well as the 60th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome and the creation of EU," Deputy Secretary General of the ASEAN Dr AKP Mochtan stated at the union's office in Jakarta. Mochtar noted that the EU-ASEAN Run 2017, being jointly organized by the EU Mission to the ASEAN, the ASEAN Secretariat, and the ASEAN Women's circle, was a concrete example of people-to-people exchanges between the two unions. "It showcases the closeness between the ASEAN and EU and the great sharing of our respective cultural diversity and richness," the deputy noted. He further added that next August, the ASEAN Secretariat has already planned to organize a similar event in another town, for instance, West Java Province's Bandung City. "We will probably hold a running event in another town beyond Jakarta, for instance, in Bandung City. However for this year's commemoration, the Philippines' capital city Manila will host several main celebratory events, including presenting an award to the biodiversity heroes as well as a tribute to the ASEAN's Founding Fathers," Mochtan informed Antara. On a similar occasion, EU Ambassador to the ASEAN Fransisco Fontan remarked that the running event is a wonderful way to promote people-to-people contacts, which are the core part of EU-Indonesia and EU-ASEAN relations. "It has brought us all together to run, or walk, learn more about the EU and ASEAN, and to enjoy the cuisines of our respective Southeast Asian and European member states, all for a good cause," the ambassador noted. Fontan further expressed his intentions to make the running event a tradition for strengthening the relations between the two unions. "That is my intention (to again hold this running event next year), but of course, it is in the hands of the ASEAN Secretariat. They all do a fantastic work to organize this unique celebration," he added. According to the EU's written statement, the running event has gathered donations of over Rp75 million that will be delivered to support the well-being of disadvantaged children in Indonesia. "In collaboration with the ASEAN Women's circle, the runners have collected donations to support three foundations, such as Yayasan Al Ikhwan, which provides elementary education to children from low-income families who are not eligible for the free school programme, Yayasan Onkologi Anak Indonesia, and Yayasan Mpati," the bloc stated on its official website. Moreover, today's event also features some musical entertainment and cultural and culinary bazaars organized by several ASEAN and EU member states, including Belgium, Bulgaria, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Spain, Sweden, and Vietnam. During today's event, Ambassador of EU to Indonesia Vincent Guérend was spotted running along with the other participants.