Philippines lauded for its successful leadership of the ASEAN Committee in Rome (ACR)

Rome, 25 January 2024 -  The Philippine Ambassador, H.E. Nathaniel G. Imperial turned over today, the rotating chairmanship of the ASEAN Committee in Rome (ACR) to Malaysian Ambassador, H.E. Zahid Rastam, at a simple ceremony held during the 75th Ambassador’s Meeting of the ACR hosted by the Embassy of Malaysia. 

The Ambassadors of the ACR present during the meeting, namely H.E. Mr. Zahid Rastam of the Embassy of Malaysia, H.E. Ms Hmway Hmway Khyne of the Embassy of Myanmar, as well as the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Indonesia, Ms. Lefianna Hartati Ferdinandus, Chargé d’Affaires of the Royal Thai Embassy, Ms. Kundhinee Aksornwong, and Mr. Nguyen Thai Hoc, Minister Counselor of the Embassy of Vietnam who represented H.E. Mr. Duong Hai Hung, Ambassador of the Embassy of Viet Nam, expressed appreciation to the Philippines for its leadership of the ACR for the past six and a half months, for its valuable contributions in enhancing ASEAN-Italy development partnership and relations, and for increasing the visibility and understanding of ASEAN in Italy, among others.

The Philippines was the Chair of the ACR from 12 July 2023 to 25 January 2024. Among the activities of the ACR during this time include the celebration of the 56th Anniversary of the founding of ASEAN attended by Director General Alessandra Schiavo of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC), the Ambassadors and Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassies of ASEAN dialogue and development partners such as Australia, Canada, China, India, Korea, New Zealand, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as friends of the ACR. The ACR also co-sponsored the symposium at the Philippine Embassy on the topic “Green Economy and Renewable Energy” during the Festival della Diplomazia in October last year.

The visit of the ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) Michael Tene to Italy to meet with Undersecretary Maria Tripodi of the MFAIC in December 2023 also happened during the chairmanship of the Philippines. While in Italy, DSG Tene conducted lectures in LUISS University and the University of Turin on ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific. He also met with the President and other officers of the Italy-ASEAN Association, the officials of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), as well as the founder of the Global Action Italy, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that aims to provide civic education to the youth global level, including engaging with ASEAN on projects for ASEAN and Italian students, specifically the ASEAN-Italy Youth Conference. END

Philippine Ambassador to Italy Neal Imperial (left) hands over the ASEAN seal to Malaysian Ambassador Zahid Rastam (right) as part of the turn-over ceremony of the chairmanship of the ASEAN Committee in Rome (ACR) from the Philippines to Malaysia held at the Embassy of Malaysia in Rome on 25 January 2024

Ambassadors and Chargés d’Affaires of the ASEAN Committee in Rome (L-R), Vietnamese Minister Counselor Nguyen Thai Hoc, Thai Chargé d’Affaires Kundhinee Aksornwong, Philippine Ambassador Neal Imperial, Malaysian Ambassador Zahid Rastam, Myanmar Ambassador Hmway Hmway Khyne, and Indonesian Chargé d’Affaires Lefianna Hartati Ferdinandus, during the ACR Chairmanship handover ceremony held at the Embassy of Malaysia in Rome on 25 January 2024