Cultural celebration highlights ASEAN’s unified cultural identity amid diversity
Vietnam’s pavilion notably displayed traditional crafts from the centuries-old lacquerware village of Ha Thai and Chu Dau ceramics. The atmosphere was further enriched by delegations wearing their countries’ traditional costumes, including the elegant ao dai and the graceful ao tu than of Vietnamese women.
Artistic performances at the 58th anniversary celebration of ASEAN’s founding, organised by Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. (Photo: VNA)
Phnom Penh (VNA)🍸 – Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts hosted a series of events on August 9 at the Royal University of Fine Arts in central Phnom Penh to mark the 58th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The event featured a dedicated space for ASEAN member states and Timor Leste embassies to showcase traditional handicrafts, drawing a large crowd eager to explore the region’s rich cultural heritage.
Vietnam’s pavilion notably displayed traditional crafts from the centuries-old lacquerware village of Ha Thai and Chu Dau ceramics. The atmosphere was further enriched by delegations wearing their countries’ traditional costumes, including the elegant ao dai and the graceful ao tu than of Vietnamese women.
Young Cambodians visit the exhibition booth showcasing traditional Vietnamese handicraft products. (Photo: VNA)
At the evening celebration, Cambodian Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sackona highlighted that the event not only commemorates ASEAN’s founding in 1967 but also reaffirms the organisation’s shared vision, unity in diversity, and commitment to peaceful coexistence and collective efforts for a prosperous future.
Minister Sackona noted that this year’s celebrations adopt the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability,” set by Malaysia, ASEAN’s rotating Chair in 2025, reflecting the region’s united resolve to achieve the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and prepare for the future with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
In the cultural sector, the ASEAN Ministers of Culture and Arts Conference (AMCA) this year chose “Bridging Cultures, Building Futures: Unity in Diversity” as its cooperation theme, underscoring the vital role of culture and arts in fostering ASEAN community building.
Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts emphasised that this theme represents the common belief that despite ASEAN’s diverse languages, religions, and traditions, cultural heritage serves as a strong unifying force. It reminds member states that safeguarding and promoting both tangible and intangible heritage is essential for preserving identity, enhancing mutual understanding, and building trust among peoples./.
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Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
The handover ceremony was held at the Malaysian Embassy headquarters in Mexico City on August 8, with the presence of heads of diplomatic missions from ASEAN member states in Mexico.
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Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
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Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
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Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
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Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
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Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
