The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Committee in Amman (ACA) and the University of Petra Tuesday co-hosted a forum “ASEAN and the Middle East: Potential and Opportunities” to mark the organization’s 56th anniversary.
“2023 is a special year for ASEAN as we celebrate 56 years of unity and togetherness despite our diversity in political, economic progress and socio-cultural spheres”, said Mohamad Nasri Abdul Rahman, Malaysian Ambassador and Chairman of ACA.
Since its establishment in 1967, ASEAN expanded from an organization with a focus on political agenda to economic prosperity and stability as well as building a caring and sharing society which is sustainable, inclusive and harmonious, he said.
“Against the backdrop of the Cold War and regional disputes still fresh in mind, ASEAN has become a successful and strategic organization with its 1967 Bangkok Declaration and the ASEAN Charter and the subsequent documents form the basis of engagement and cooperation among the ten Member States”, said the ambassador.
“Its unique diplomatic engagement, known as the ASEAN Way, has helped the member states to maintain the peace, security and stability of the Southeast Asian region”, he said.
The envoy noted that ASEAN has developed friendly relations and mutual beneficial dialogue, cooperation and partnership with its external partners as well as the respective host countries and international organizations where the ASEAN Committees in Third Country are based.
He said the convening of the ASEAN Forum provided an avenue for the organization to interact and engage with Jordan and the Middle East in line with the aims of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 to effectively promote ASEAN and cooperation between it and the host country and the region, he said.
ACA, Abdul Rahman pointed out, has established cooperation with the University of Petra and is interested in engaging the University in various fields, in addition to higher education and scientific research, adding that it welcomes cooperation with other Jordanian stakeholders towards effective partnerships between the two regions.
ACA comprises five ASEAN ambassadors based in Jordan, namely Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.
Source: Jordan News Agency