Photo exhibition “ASEAN@50”

Secretary-General Minh,
Ambassador Garcia,
Distinguished Ambassadors of ASEAN countries,
Secretary-General Kituyi,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen:

Welcome to the opening of the photo exhibition celebrating “ASEAN@50”. The Director-General, Mr. Michael Møller, regrets that he cannot be with us today and sends his best regards. He has asked me to present his remarks on his behalf and I quote:

“Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen:

A warm welcome to today’s opening of the photo exhibition marking the 50th anniversary of ASEAN. I thank the Permanent Missions of the ASEAN Member States for bringing this exhibition to the Palais des Nations and I would particularly like to thank the Permanent Mission of the Philippines for coordinating this joint initiative.

This unique photo exhibition with the title “ASEAN@50” takes us on a journey through communities and eco-systems of the whole region and provides a rich illustration of the diverse ways of life in ASEAN nations.

Established in 1967 in Bangkok with five founding members, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, ASEAN has doubled its membership and now includes Brunei Darussalam, Viet Nam, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar and Cambodia as well. When ASEAN was created, the region was marked by poverty. Differences in ideology and culture set countries apart. Five decades later, the region has matured into a community focusing on economic integration, growth and consensus-building. Today, ASEAN is the world’s seventh-largest market and has the third-largest labor force. For its 625 million inhabitants, ASEAN has strengthened economic development by expanding trade and investment. ASEAN has provided its citizens with tremendous new opportunities, including visa free travel. With the adoption of the landmark Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers, ASEAN helps to provide protection to documented migrant workers and their families in the region. The Association also provides a platform for better coordination of humanitarian assistance. Through the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity (ACB), it contributes to the protection of the environment and the preservation of the rich biodiversity in the region. Finally, ASEAN plays an important role in resolving conflicts and building a secure, stable and peaceful region, for example through the Southeast Asian Nuclear Weapons-Free Zone Treaty.

The Association is an excellent example of how regional cooperation can promote peace and security, human rights and well-being – which are at the core of the United Nations’ work. This is precisely why regional organizations are important partners to the United Nations. With Chapter VIII of its Charter dedicated to regional arrangements, this partnership is written into the DNA of the United Nations.

Over the years, ASEAN has become an ever-closer partner to the United Nations. The Association will play an important role in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, using its five-year Plan of Action for the period from 2016 to 2020 to help translate the Global Goals into regional and national action.

And the good spirit of collaboration among ASEAN countries is also present here in Geneva where, for example, the Permanent Missions of the Association’s Member States continue to work together to share their cultural diversity and richness. Earlier this year, in March, we rejoiced in the ASEAN Film Festival, featuring outstanding films from different countries. This was already the second edition of the Festival, which was first held in 2015. And, of course, it is much appreciated that these events also provide us with some samples of Asian cuisine.

Ladies and gentlemen,

As H.E. Mr. Alan Peter S. Cayetano, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, said on the occasion of the Grand celebration of the 50th anniversary of ASEAN on 8 August, the citizens of the ASEAN region should be thinking less “I am a Filipino, I’m Vietnamese, I’m Thai [or] I’m Malaysian”; they should “start thinking I am an ASEAN”. Today, in celebration of ASEAN’s 50th anniversary “We are all ASEAN”.

I thank you and I wish you a nice afternoon!”

These were the words of the Director-General.

Let me join him in wishing you a very nice evening. Thank you.