Fifty-second ASEAN anniversary observed

The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Manama organised a raising flag ceremony to commemorate the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Day and celebration of the 52nd Anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN.

ASEAN is a regional intergovernmental organisation which was established by Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand on 8 August 1967 with the signing of ASEAN Declaration. Brunei Darussalam then joined on 7 January 1984, Viet Nam on 28 July 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999, making up what is today the ten Member States of ASEAN. The ASEAN Secretariat is located at Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia and ASEAN.

ASEAN promotes intergovernmental cooperation in political-security, economic as well as socio-cultural integration. Enhancing cooperative relations between ASEAN and the GCC including Bahrain are very important in order for preserving peace and prosperity and provide a high-standard of living for people of both regions.

The Ambassadors of Indonesia, Malaysia, Kingdom of Thailand and the Philippines, as well as Charge d’Affaires of Brunei Darussalam accredited to the Kingdom of Bahrain, along with the diplomatic staff of the respective Embassies, attended the ceremony. Dr Shaikha Rana bint Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain; Shaikh Daij bin Isa Al Khalifa, Chairman and members of ASEAN Bahrain Council as well as the representatives and leader of each ASEAN member’s community resident in Bahrain, has participated in this event.

The ceremony was concluded by cutting tumpeng rice (nasi tumpeng) followed by hospitality reception for all participants. Marking the occasion, all the embassies also provided and promoted their countries’ traditional food and snacks.