THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) commemorated its 57th founding anniversary on Thursday amid growing tensions in the South China Sea (SCS).
The occasion coincided with the holding of the first joint sea drills between the Philippines, an Asean founding member country, and Vietnam.
Both countries, who have competing claims over parts of the SCS, said the drills at the mouth of Manila Bay contributed to maintaining peace and stability in the contested waters.
“It’s a good thing that we are going in one direction, which is the rules-based approach of the Philippines,” Lawrence Roque, captain of the Philippine ship BRP Gabriela Silang, told reporters following the drills.
Despite territorial disputes with some of its members, China said it was delighted to celebrate strong trade partnership with Asean.
In the first seven months of this year, Asean has remained China’s largest trading partner, with trade reaching 3.92 trillion yuan, growing by 10.5 percent.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi hailed the robust partnership during the 31st Asean Regional Forum in Vientiane.
“Let’s embrace peace, cooperation, and dialogue, and uphold the Asean way to address global challenges. Our collaboration is crucial for regional peace and prosperity. May our friendship and collaboration continue to flourish,” he said.
The Philippine Embassy in Pretoria celebrated the Asean founding anniversary with an event graced by Philippine Ambassador Noralyn Jubaira Baja, Indian Ocean Rim Association Secretary-General Dr. Salman Al-Farisi, Indonesian Permanent Chargé d’Affaires Lanang Seputro, Thai Deputy Chief of Mission Paisit Boonparlit, and Malaysian Honorary Consul Saleem Beebeejaun.
The gathering highlighted Asean’s strong collaborative relations with Mauritius.
A similar celebration was held on Thursday at the Indonesian Embassy in Rabat.
Philippine Ambassador to Morocco Leslie Baja delivered the welcome remarks on behalf of the Indonesian Ambassador and Asean Committee in Rabat Chairman H.E. Hasrul Azwar.
Baja highlighted the achievements of Asean in the past 57 years, underscoring how the organization has continually espoused amity and cooperation, principles of sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, noninterference, consensus, and unity amid diversity.
The Asean was established on Aug. 8, 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the Asean Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by founding members Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
Brunei Darussalam joined the Asean on Jan. 7, 1984, followed by Vietnam on July 28, 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on July 23, 1997, and Cambodia on April 30, 1999.
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