Philippines starts preparing for chairing ASEAN in 2017

The Philippine government has started preparing for its chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2017, coinciding with the 50th founding anniversary of the regional grouping, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday.

The department said it convened recently a four-day follow-up Strategic Planning Workshop for the Philippine Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2017 and the commemoration of ASEAN's 50th founding anniversary.

This workshop was participated in by the heads of ASEAN foreign service posts and DFA offices on the first day, representatives from government agencies on the second and third days, and representatives from civil society organizations, think tanks, and the business sector on the fourth day, it said.

As the Philippine chairmanship of ASEAN will coincide with ASEAN's 50th founding anniversary, representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat, the ASEAN Foundation, the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), and the Committee on Culture and Information-Philippines presented their plans and programs for commemorative activities for ASEAN@50, the DFA added.

During the workshop sessions, participants discussed proposals for the chairmanship theme, substantive priorities, commemorative activities for ASEAN@50, as well as the administrative and logistical requirements for the hosting of ASEAN meetings in 2017, it said. Enditem