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By APD writer Melo M. Acuna
**MANILA, Aug. 5 (APD) ** – Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano said candid discussions and heart-to-heart meetings over dinner last night, prior to the formal opening of the ASEAN Ministers Meeting at the Philippine International Convention Center today.
In his welcome remarks, Secretary Cayetano said the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting takes place three days before ASEAN’s 50th founding anniversary.
He paid tribute to ASEAN’s founding fathers who signed the Bangkok Protocol in 1967.
“Fifty years ago, the founding members Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand took a bold step in forming an association with regional peace and security and stability, economic progress and social progress and cultural development as goals in the region,” Mr. Cayetano said.
He added the ASEAN is now enjoying the “high noon” as its has transformed into a community “that is resilient and dynamic, enjoying the respect and admiration of many other countries and organizations around the world.”
Mr. Cayetano said what makes ASEAN unique and admirable is its peaceful settlement of regional disputes.
He further said regional cooperation is the best and surest means of achieving peace.
“In the last 15 years, we have gone beyond amity and friendship to true brotherhood and sisterhood,” he further added.
Mr. Cayetano commended the contributions by member governments, the ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN sectoral bodies, associate entities and other stakeholders, the business community, civil society, the media, academe and think tanks among others.
“ASEAN centrality is a driving principle of our association and with the emerging changes in regional security architecture, let us ensure that ASEAN shall continue and will remain relevant and responsive the the needs of the people,’ Cayetano added.
Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia are now part of ASEAN while Timor Leste and Papua New Guinea are still in observer status.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
