Press Release

The Inaugural Meeting of the Network of ASEAN Associations

of ASEAN Member States

On 2 December 2019, H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, presided over the Opening Ceremony of the Inaugural Meeting of the Network of ASEAN Associations of ASEAN Member States at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangkok.  In his opening remarks, he underscored the importance of setting up such a Network as a regional platform to raise public awareness of ASEAN, to foster the sense of belonging to the ASEAN Community amongst the peoples of ASEAN and to promote an ASEAN identity.  The Network would serve to bridge the Track One process with representatives of various sectors of society in order to bring a broad range of stakeholders to the ASEAN Community-building process.

The Inaugural Meeting was chaired by Dr. Chitriya Pinthong, President of the ASEAN Association of Thailand and was attended by representatives from members of the Network, comprising ten ASEAN Associations or similar entities designated by the Government of the ASEAN Member States, as well as the ASEAN Secretariat and the ASEAN Foundation.

It was the first time that the members of the Network of ASEAN Associations gathered together following its establishment during the 34^th ASEAN Summit in June this year.  The participants shared experience and exchanged best practices and also explored the possibility of joint activities/ projects of the Network in areas of mutual interest for the year 2020.

The establishment of the Network of ASEAN Associations of ASEAN Member State is one of the deliverables during Thailand’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2019.  The work of the Network will reinforce the work done by various ASEAN mechanisms to promote greater participation of people and various groups in ASEAN activities.

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The Inaugural Meeting of the Network of ASEAN Associations  of ASEAN Member States