August 08, 2011 15:57 PM
Asean Day Marked With Flag Hoisting At Foreign Missions
By P. Vijian
NEW DELHI, Aug 8 (Bernama) -- Asean commemorated its 44th anniversary today, with a significant event, as member states hoisted the Asean flag for the first time in their respective diplomatic missions abroad.
At the Malaysian High Commission in Delhi, the blue-red-white-yellow flag, dotted with stalks of paddy, was hoisted at 8am, concurrent with other missions.
"This flag-raising ceremony is the outward manifestation of the 10 member countries' faith in Asean.
"The ceremony is an important event to raise public awareness on Asean," Malaysian High Commissioner to India Datuk Tan Seng Sung said at the event.
The signing of the Asean Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) in Thailand in 1967 led to the creation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or Asean.
The founding fathers were Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
"It shows our collective resolve towards the realisation of an Asean community by 2015. In fact, this partnership in diversity has now evolved into an Asean identity," said Tan.
Starting today, all Southeast Asian overseas diplomatic missions will display their respective national flags, along with the Asean flag, permanently.
-- BERNAMA