The ASEAN Committee in Rome (ACR) Ambassadors hold their 61st meeting on 09 August 2021 at the Embassy of Malaysia in Rome. This was the first physical meeting of the ACR Ambassadors after over a year of conducting the monthly meetings online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

09 August 2021, Rome – Philippine Ambassador to Italy Domingo P. Nolasco participated in the 61st meeting of the Ambassadors of the ASEAN Committee in Rome (ACR) held on 09 August 2021 at the Malaysian Embassy in Rome. This was the first physical gathering of the Ambassadors after over a year of conducting the monthly ACR meetings online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During this occasion, the chairmanship of the ACR was handed over by the Embassy of Indonesia to the Embassy of Malaysia. The last face-to-face meeting of the group was held on 04 March 2020.

Following the ACR Ambassadors’ meeting, Malaysian Ambassador Dato’ Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino, current Chair of the ACR, hosted the ASEAN Day celebration. The 54th ASEAN Day was commemorated with the singing of the ASEAN anthem and speeches from Ambassador Castelino and Ms. Valentina Muiesan, Head of the Southeast Asia and Pacific Division of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The ceremony concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony and a reception showcasing the cuisine from each of the six ASEAN Embassies in Rome namely, the Embassies of Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

All other members of the ACR, Ambassador Esti Andayani of Indonesia, Ambassador Hmway Hmway Khyne of Myanmar, Ambassador Chirdchu Raktabutr of Thailand and Ambassador Nguyen Thi Bich Hue of Viet Nam, as well as the other partners of ACR were present during the event. END

The ASEAN Committee in Rome (ACR) Ambassadors, together with Ms. Valentina Muiesan, Head of the Southeast Asia and Pacific Division of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, ceremonially cut the cake during the celebration of the ASEAN Day at the Malaysian Embassy in Rome on 09 August 2021.

The ASEAN Committee in Rome (ACR) Ambassadors during the celebration of the ASEAN Day at the Malaysian Embassy in Rome on 09 August 2021. L-R: Myanmar Ambassador Hmway Hmway Khyne, Malaysian Ambassador Dato’ Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino, Viet Nam Ambassador Nguyen Thi Bich Hue, Indonesian Ambassador Esti Andayani, Philippine Ambassador Domingo Nolasco, and Thai Ambassador Tana Weskosith.

The ASEAN Committee in Rome (ACR) Ambassadors are joined by the Italian partners of ACR during the celebration of the ASEAN Day at the Malaysian Embassy in Rome on 09 August 2021.