Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Addressing the virtual ceremony, which was broadcast live onASEAN social media channels, ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi stressed that since COVID-19 broke out in early 2020, the bloc has taken theopportunity to become an more inclusive and resilient community.
He underscored the need for the association to head towards long-term post-pandemic recovery by promoting comprehensive digitaltransformation in all fields.
For his part, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi called on all membercountries to play a more positive role in shaping motivations of the region,promoting principles and values stated in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific(AOIP).
"The pandemic is hardly our only challenge, regional peaceand stability also demand our attention. Great power rivalries show no signs ofdiminishing anytime soon and has the potential to sow division among us," she said.
Along with the official speeches, heads or representatives of ASEAN Centres andFacilities conveyed their well wishes to ASEAN.
In parallel to the ASEAN Gallery’s20th anniversary, the online celebration featured the launchof August Gathering, a commemorative coffee table book of the gallery’sartworks by Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi and Ambassador of the Republicof Korea to ASEAN Lim Sungnam.
Separately, to further commemorate the 54th ASEAN Day,the ASEAN Secretariat, in collaboration with ASEAN member states, is hostingthe second edition of the “ASEAN Online Sale Day” to connecte-marketplace companies to regional consumers. This event is part of ASEAN'sefforts to rebuild consumer confidence, leveraging on digital technologies,towards a more robust recovery.
Besides, the celebration included the announcement of a newbursary initiative, “ASEAN-Maybank Scholarship,” supported by MaybankFoundation, a recently-accredited ASEAN Entity, in partnership with the ASEANSecretariat. The scholarship will be co-implemented by the ASEAN Foundation andthe ASEAN University Network. Its call for application will begin in 2022.
Meanwhile, the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN is organising apublic webinar on August 11 focusing on health and economic recovery./.
VNA
