The Vietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh to the event.

With the theme “Under one light, we are one ASEAN”, the ceremony included a series of performances praising the friendship and solidarity of the 10 member states.

In his message delivered at the ceremony, Duterte reaffirmed the importance of ASEAN over the past five decades, hoping the community will continue growing sustainably.

In the period, the role and position of ASEAN have been asserted firmly, which is reflected through the strength of the ASEAN Community, the close connectivity in politics, economics and culture among the members, and development in relations between ASEAN and its partners as well as countries’ support for ASEAN’s central role in regional processes.

He also stressed the need for ASEAN to promote its activeness and connectivity in order to better adapt to new developments in the region and the world.

ASEAN founding anniversary marked in South Africa

The ASEAN Pretoria Committee (APC) held a ceremony in the capital city of Pretoria on August 8 to mark the 50th founding anniversary of the association (August 8, 1967).

The event was jointly organised by embassies of ASEAN countries in South Africa, namely Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.

Indonesian Ambassador to South Africa Suprapto Martosetomo, who is currently President of the APC, reviewed the establishment and development of ASEAN over the past five decades.

He noted that from the first five members, ASEAN has developed into a 10-member bloc which is connected in terms of politics and economy while enhancing cooperation with external partners.

ASEAN has affirmed and promoted its central role in addressing regional and global issues via peaceful measures and dialogues in line with international law, he stressed.

Particularly, the association has always maintained peace, stability and common development over the past 50 years, he added.

The establishment of the ASEAN Community in 2015 marked an important milestone in regional economic and trade connectivity as well as illustrates its commitments to building a single market of over 630 million people to increase competitiveness and promote intra- and extra-bloc cooperation, he said.-

VNA