Havana (VNA) – The ASEA💦N Committee in Cuba (ACC), grouping the embassies of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar and Malaysia, held an ASEAN flag raising ceremony in Havana on August 20 to mark the 57♏th founding anniversary of the bloc.

Apart from ambassadors of the member countries, the event saw the participation of representatives from the embassies of China, Japan, Timor-Leste, and representatives of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP). Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Le Quang Long, rotating chairman of the ASEAN Committee in Cuba, emphasised the spirit of cooperation, friendship and solidarity of the ASEAN community over the past decades, highlighting ASEAN's core values of peace, stability and prosperity through solidarity and cooperation. The block will welcome Timor-Leste as its 11th member, he said, adding that this is also a testament to ASEAN's commitment to comprehensive cooperation in the region. In Cuba, the ASEAN Committee has worked closely to promote the interests of the member countries, as well as the community's solidarity for the peace, development and happiness of the people both in Southeast Asia and in Cuba. Regarding the ASEAN-Cuba ties Long stressed that the relationship is based on mutual respect, solidarity and a shared vision for the future. In November 2020, Cuba became the first Caribbean country to sign the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). This important step underscores Cuba’s commitment to promoting peace and cooperation in the region. He noted that Cuba undertook as an observer at the 44th Session of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in 2023, highlighting the Caribbean island nation’s desire to strengthen relations with ASEAN and contribute to regional stability. The diplomat took the opportunity to extend his thanks for the ASEAN dialouge partners, namely China and Japan, for ther important contributions to the bloc's success. For his part, Ariel Lorenzo Rodríguez, Director of Asia and Oceania Division under the General Division of Bilateral Affair of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spoke highly of the solidarity, friendship and increasing role of ASEAN in the international arena. He affirmed that Cuba always attaches importance to the relations with ASEAN countries, and stands ready to cooperate with ASEAN in the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, language training, culture, sports and climate change response. On this occasion, the ASEAN Committee in Cuba organised a group walk and activities for children to strengthen solidarity and friendship./.