DOHA: The Brunei Darussalam Embassy on Sunday hosted an event to celebrate this year’s Asean Day, which marks the 53rd Anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
The celebration was attended by the Asean Committee in Doha (ACD), comprising the seven embassies of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The highlight of the event was the hoisting of the Asean flag, accompanied by the playing of the Asean anthem titled ‘The Asean Way’. Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs Protocol Department Director Ibrahim Yousif Abdullah Fakhro attended the event.
Focus on resilience
Speaking on the occasion, Mohamed Bahrin Abu Bakar, Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam and chairman of the Asean Committee in Doha (ACD) this year, said that against the current backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, the theme for Asean’s 53rd anniversary this year puts focus on Asean’s cohesive journey towards resilience.
“Asean Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi has also pointed out the significance for Asean to develop a robust, holistic and pragmatic post-pandemic recovery framework to mitigate the socioeconomic effects of the pandemic on its people, while continuing to advance Asean’s regional economic integration,” he said.
“Through the Declaration of the Special Asean Summit on Covid-19, Asean leaders have demonstrated their collective will and shared commitment to strengthen solidarity, enhance cooperation and mutual support among Asean member states, with external partners and the international community, in the fight against Covid-19,” he said.