On Friday, 8 August 2014, ASEAN Day Flag Raising Ceremony was held at the Residence of the High Commissioner of Malaysia and attended by around 30 guests comprising of ASEAN Missions Home Based Staff. ASEAN Missions involved in the event were the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, High Commission of Malaysia, Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines and Royal Thai Embassy.
2. The event started with a flag raising ceremony accompanied by ASEAN Anthem the “ASEAN Way” and ASEAN hymn the “ASEAN Song of Unity”. The ceremony then followed by a remark made by ASEAN-Nairobi Community Chairman for 2014, H.E Ambassador Ismail Salam, the High Commissioner of Malaysia.
3. Among salient points made by the High Commissioner of Malaysia are as follows:
3.1 It is a good time for ASEAN communities in Kenya to reflect the developments and potential that can be achieved to further promote ASEAN in the region;
3.2 Sense of solidarity has made ASEAN credible in the eyes of the world and ASEAN is now ready to be fully integrated into a community that is outward looking, playing a leading role in emerging regional architecture;
3.3 ASEAN contributed to the healthy development of global community, socially responsible, free of conflict and economically vibrant which bring it closer to the people of the region making it a people-centered organisation that is caring and socially responsible;
3.4 The theme Moving Forward in Unity to a Peaceful and Prosperous Community for this year is appropriate to remind that ASEAN must continue to be visionary and forward-looking;
3.5 ASEAN must continue to work together towards the realisation of the people’s aspirations of good governance, transparency, higher standards of living, promote sustainable development, further empower women and provide greater opportunity for all;
3.6 ASEAN community in Kenya need to explore ways to strengthen its presence as a regional grouping in the country and to the larger East Africa Economic Community. In this regard, the ASEAN Nairobi Chapter has lined up several programme including media promotion, lecture sessions, meeting with East African representatives in Kenya and ASEAN Food Festival for this purpose this year. A closer cooperation is needed to ensure efforts to promote ASEAN in this region a success; and
3.7 ASEAN should continue to remain an important vehicle in the effort to ensure continuous peace, stability and prosperity. The creation of an ASEAN Community in 2015 is definitely one thing to look forward to. Through integration, many opportunities will arise and each member-state can take advantage which in the end will benefit the people of ASEAN.
4. The flag raising ceremony ended with simple refreshments and H.E High Commissioner of Malaysia on behalf of the ASEAN-Nairobi Community takes the opportunity to welcome H.E Ambassador Bayani V. Mangibin, a newly appointed Ambassador of the Philippines to Kenya.
High Commission of Malaysia
Nairobi, Kenya
