H.E. Le Luong Minh, ASEAN Secretary General, visited Geneva from 11 to 13 September 2017 as part of the ASEAN@50 Commemorative activities.
During his visit to Geneva, the ASEAN Sec-Gen met with the UNCTAD Secretary General, Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi and was presented with a publication titled ASEAN@50: Achievements and Challenges in Regional Integration. The ASEAN Sec-Gen also participated as a panelist during the High-Level Dialogue of the UNCTAD Trade and Development Board on the topic “Is the world integrating or disintegrating?”
Speaking at the 36th Session of the Human Rights Council, the ASEAN Sec-Gen stressed the importance of human rights are an important content of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025. Encouraging and protecting human rights and fundamental rights of people are basic principles of the ASEAN Political Security Community (APSC) Blueprint 2025 and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2015.
During the UNOG Executive Briefing, the ASEAN Sec-Gen took the opportunity to exchange views with the diplomatic community on ASEAN-UN partnership in various fields such as political security, economy, and culture-society under the ASEAN-UN Plan of Action.
At a public lecture at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) titled “ASEAN@50: Able to Meet the Asian Challenges?” the ASEAN Sec-Gen shared his views on how ASEAN could project itself in the coming years in the face of increasing regional and global challenges.
The ASEAN Sec-Gen also launched the ASEAN@50 photo exhibition and food fair at the Palais des Nations. The exhibition aimed at showcasing the peoples, biodiversity and successes of ASEAN and its Members. The e-exhibit is online at http://genevapm.ph/aseanphotoexhibit/
The ASEAN Sec-Gen’s visit to Geneva succeeded in promoting ASEAN as a model for regional integration.