The Ambassadors of the ASEAN Committee in Rome (ACR) with Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs Manlio di Stefano during the ACR Working Luncheon on 15 January 2019. L-R: Thai Ambassador Tana Weskosith, Indonesian Ambassador Esti Andayani, Myanmar Ambassador Myint Naung, Malaysian Ambassador Dato’ Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino, Undersecretary Di Stefano, Philippine Ambassador Domingo Nolasco, and Vietnamese Ambassador-designate Nguyen Thi Bich Hue.

15 January 2019 – The Ambassadors of the ASEAN Committee in Rome (ACR) met with Italian Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs Manlio di Stefano during the Committee’s Working Luncheon hosted by Malaysian Ambassador Dato’ Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino on 15 January 2019.

Undersecretary Di Stefano underscored Italy’s commitment to closely engage ASEAN and its member countries, noting ASEAN’s growth opportunities. He shared that Italy is keen to promote cooperation on cultural heritage and agricultural machineries with the region. He further said that Italy could be ASEAN’s bridge to Europe.

The ACR Ambassadors conveyed their readiness to promote ASEAN-Italy relations and to enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interests. The meeting also exchanged views on political developments in Italy and the EU.

The ACR organizes working luncheons on a monthly basis and invites Italian officials to discuss ASEAN-Italy relations, political and economic developments and other issues of interest.

Italian Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs Manlio di Stefano conveys Italy’s commitment to engage ASEAN and its member countries during the ACR Working Luncheon on 15 January 2019. L-R: Myanmar Ambassador Myint Naung, Undersecretary Di Stefano, Philippine Ambassador Domingo Nolasco and Principal Director for the Countries of Asia and Oceania Ugo Astuto of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.