Mexico City (VNA) – The ASEAN Festival 202𒊎4 was held at Angela Peralta Theatre in downtown Mexico City, offering an opportunity for local residents to immerse themselves in the taཧpestry of diversified culture from ASEAN countries.

The event was part of foreign affairs activities by the ASEAN Committee in Mexico City (ACMC), aiming to enhance understanding and tighten solidarity and friendship between ASEAN member states and Mexico, particularly in the field of cultural diplomacy. Addressing the event, which ended on September 8, Indonesian Ambassador to Mexico Cheppy Wartono, who serves as the rotating Chair of the ACMC, stated that with its 10 members, ASEAN has become one of the most dynamic regions in the world, with total GDP of approximately 3.7 trillion USD, making it the fifth-largest economy globally and home to around 680 million people. Additionally, ASEAN is a prestigious and increasingly influential organisation with an expansive external relationship, playing a central role in the region, valued by all partners, especially major powers. The bloc has signed 125 free trade agreements (FTAs), including six with regional organisations. Affirming that ASEAN always attaches importance to its relationship with Mexico, Wartono said that bilateral relations between its member states and Mexico have continuously developed in recent years across various fields, particularly in investment, trade and tourism activities. María de Lourdes Pozo Pietra Santa, head of the International Affairs Department of the Miguel Hidalgo municipality, which houses many international diplomatic missions, hailed the significance of the Vietnamese cultural space, saying that the local administration and residents were delight to participate in typical cultural activities like this festival. Visitors to the event are treated to folk art performances, along with handicrafts and artworks reflecting the rich cultural heritage of Vietnam as well as enjoy the country’s traditional dishes./.