ASEAN delegates arrive in Boracay

(L-R): H.E. Thongphane Savanphet, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lao PDR; H.E. Dato' Ramlan Ibrahim, Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia; H.E. Myint Thu, Director-General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Myanmar; H.E. Busaya Mathelin, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand; H.E. Nguyen Quoc Dzung, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Viet Nam; H.E. Enrique A. Manalo, Undersecretary for Policy, Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippines; H.E. Brig. Gen. (Ins) Chee Wee Kiong, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore; Mr. Garry Ramlee Bin Ibrahim, Acting Director-General, ASEAN Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Brunei Darussalam; H.E. Dr. Soeung Rathchavy, Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; H.E. Jose Tavares, SOM Leader and Director General for ASEAN Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Indonesia; and H.E. Mr. Hirubalan VP, Deputy Secretary-General, ASEAN Secretariat.

Delegates to the Foreign Ministers Retreat of this year’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit have started arriving in this world-renowned resort island.

Undersecretary Charles Jose of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said during a press conference said Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. will be chairperson of the event, the Philippines being the host of this year’s summit.

Jose said illegal drugs, sea disputes with China and human trafficking are among the challenges faced by ASEAN member states.

Aside from the Foreign Ministers’ Retreat, Boracay also hosted the ASEAN meetings for Committee of Permanent Representatives last February 19 and Senior Officers Meeting on February 20.