MexicoCity (VNA) - The ASEAN Committee in Mexico City (ACMC) held aceremony on August 8 to celebrate the 51st founding anniversary ofthe Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).  

The event saw the participation of officials from representative agencies ofASEAN member nations in Mexico, and representatives from the Mexican Secretariatof Foreign Affairs.

Addressing the ceremony, Philippine Ambassador to Mexico Demetrio R. Tuason -  the rotating Chairman of ACMC, reviewed the ASEAN’sachievements over the last five decades, which helped turn ASEAN into an unitedand strong community with comprehensive cooperation in all aspects.

Intra-bloc cooperation and solidarity has significantly contributed to maintainingpeace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world, hestressed.

The diplomat affirmed that the formation of ASEAN Community in 2015 on thethree key pillars of politics-security; economics; and society-culture will bringcrucial and practical benefits to each ASEAN member state, as well as help improvethe bloc’s position and central role in the region.

ASEAN is always willing to strengthen relations with Mexico across fields,especially in economic, trade and investment links, and tourism and culture cooperation,he said.

He added that ASEAN also wants to boost cooperation with the Pacific Alliance -which groups Latin American countries of Mexico,Chile, Colombia and Peru.

Statistics from Mexico’s Secretariat of Economy, trade turnover betweenthe country with the group of Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailandand Vietnam posted annual average growth of over 10 percent, hitting 24.28billion USD in 2017.

ASEAN has 10 members: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.-VNA