H.E. Lloyd Axworthy
Co-Chairman,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The handling-over ceremony of three ASEAN-Canada Cooperation Projects namely, the ASEAN Institute of Forest Management (AIFM); ASEAN Forest Tree Seed Centre (AFTSC) and the ASEAN Fisheries Post Harvest Technology Project (AFPHTP) today marks another milestone in the ASEAN- Canada dialogue relations which enters its 20th year, this year.
ASEAN and Canada have a long history of cooperation dating back to 1977 when ASEAN and Canada held their first dialogue Meeting in Manila. To formalise this cooperation, ASEAN and Canada signed the ASEAN Canada Economic Cooperation Agreement which provided the framework for implementation of development programmes and projcets in the ASEAN Countries.
In the course of our 20 years of collaboration, ASEAN has benefited substantially from the acquisition of knowledge, expertise and technology in the various areas of interest to ASEAN such as Science and Technology, HRD, Fisheries, Forestry, Telecommunications and Environment.
The completion at the three projects is a manifestation of the close collaboration between ASEAN and Canada. On behalf of ASEAN, I wish to extend my congratulations.
Also on behalf of ASEAN, allow me to record our deepest appreciation and gratitude to the Government of Canada, CIDA and to all other Canadian agencies and personnel involved in the funding and implementation of these projects and for their overall support and contribution to the development of the ASEAN region.
I should also like to take this opportunity to record our appreciation to all ASEAN personnel as well as to all ASEAN agencies involved in the projects for their dedication and hard work to bring the projects to a successful conclusion.
Thank you
- ABOUT ASEAN
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam joined ASEAN on 7 January 1984, followed by Viet Nam on 28 July 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999, making up what is today the ten Member States of ASEAN.Menu - WHAT WE DO
ASEAN organs always strive to achieve ASEAN’s goals and objectives, the Secretary-General of ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat shall be functioned as coordinating Secretariat to help facilitate effective decision-making withing and amongst ASEAN bodies. In addition, each Member State shall appoint a Permanent Representative to liaise with Secretary-General of ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat
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ASEAN shall develop friendly relations and mutually beneficial dialogues, cooperation and partnerships with countries and sub-regional, regional and international organisations and institutions. This includes external partners, ASEAN entities, human rights bodies, non-ASEAN Member States Ambassadors to ASEAN, ASEAN committees in third countries and international organisations, as well as international / regional organisations.
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The rodmap for an ASEAN Community (2009-2015) was declared by the leaders in 2009. The ASEAN Community, anchored on three community pillars: Political-Security Community, Economic Community, Socio-Cultural Community was launched in 2015. The ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together was introduced in 2015 as a Post-2015 Vision. It comprises the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, the ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint 2025, the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2025 and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025
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