The first engagement of the CPR with the Non-ASEAN Ambassadors accredited to ASEAN in Jakarta (NAAAs) was held on 25 January 2017. This activity aims to facilitate engagement between the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR) and the Non-ASEAN Ambassadors accredited to ASEAN (NAAAs) in Jakarta, in line with the Guidelines adopted at the 14/2016 CPR Meeting in Vientiane, Laos and the discussions at the 17/2016 CPR Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The gathering was attended by all the CPR, Ambassadors accredited to ASEAN in Jakarta or their representative excluding those from Dialogue Partner, Sectoral Dialogue Partner, and Development Partner countries as well as those from regional organizations with whom ASEAN regularly cooperates, and the ASEAN Secretariat.
The purpose of the gathering is also to introduce the NAAAs to the CPR, particularly to their respective Country Coordinators, as well as to familiarize the NAAAs with ASEAN and its relevant mechanisms that operate in Jakarta. Malaysia acts as the country coordinator for the Middle East Group which consist of Iraq, Jordan, Turkey and Yemen. The gathering is also used as a platform to initiate more regular engagement between the NAAAs and the CPR, both through formal and informal meetings.