mseap

NEWS

Board View
SUBJECT Inaugural ASEAN Secretariat Dialogue Series kicks off
DATE 2018-02-01
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As part of its capacity building programme, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat launched the “ASEAN Dialogue Series.”

 

 

Initially housed at the Department of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia in Jakarta, the ASEAN Secretariat was set up in 1976 by the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN, whose basic function now is to offer greater efficiency in the coordination of ASEAN Member States and their organs.

 

 

The inaugural session started this morning, featuring former Indonesian Foreign Minister, Dr Marty Natalegawa, and was moderated by Deputy Secretary-General AKP Mochtan.

 

 

In his opening address, the Secretary-General of ASEAN Dato Lim Jock Hoi remarked, “As ASEAN embarks on a new chapter following a year of jubilee and celebration in 2017, exchanges such as this Dialogue Series provides a timely forum for discussion on the future direction of ASEAN in moving forward with our Community building.”

 

 

Representatives at the ASEAN Secretariat Dialogue Series (Photo: ASEAN Secretariat)

 

 

In his talk, Dr Natalegawa highlighted that ASEAN has brought about transformative change and progress in the region. This included in intra-ASEAN relations, the position of ASEAN Member States in the wider region, and making ASEAN people-centered.

 

 

These achievements did not happen by chance, but instead by conscious, deliberate and courageous decisions.

 

 

Against the backdrop of this feat, he accentuated that ASEAN should not be complacent with the status quo and instead must be proactive and anticipatory in its regionalism efforts.

 

 

Dr Natalegawa also reminded that ASEAN should utilize and build upon its existing instruments and mechanisms as the region drives forward enhanced regional cooperation.

 

 

The Dialogue Series will be held regularly and aims at strengthening the knowledge capacity of ASEC staff as they render greater support to the ASEAN Member States and other key stakeholders in ASEAN’s community building efforts.

 

 

By MSEAP Cyber Secretariat (mseap@assembly.go.kr)