Malaysia assumes ASEAN Committee Seoul Chairmanship
H.E. Dato’ Ramlan bin Ibrahim (5th from left) joins the ASEAN Heads of Mission in a show of ASEAN solidarity
during the handover of ACS chairmanship from the Philippines to Malaysia.
Malaysia has assumed the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Committee Seoul (ACS) on Monday, 6 July 2009, for a period of six months.
In his acceptance speech, H.E. Dato’ Ramlan bin Ibrahim, Ambassador of Malaysia to the RoK congratulated the outgoing Chairman, H.E. Luis T. Cruz, Ambassador of the Philippines for leading the group and having accomplished several major events during his chairmanship including the Opening of the ASEAN-Korea Centre on 13 March 2009, luncheon with the Foreign Minister of the RoK, H.E. Yu Myung-hwan and the ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit in Jeju on 1-2 June 2009.
Dato’ Ramlan congratulates the outgoing ACS Chairman, H.E. Luis T. Cruz, Ambassador of the Philippines
(seated in the middle) in his acceptance speech.
Dato’ Ramlan said that he would be working with the rest of the ASEAN Ambassadors to look at new initiatives on ASEAN-RoK, promote awareness among the Korean public of ASEAN and follow up the outcome of the Jeju Summit. He also stressed that ASEAN’s practice of engaging senior Korean government officials in ASEAN activities and collaborative projects would be continued in the coming months.
RoK is currently ASEAN’s 5th largest trading partner. Trade between the two sides increased by 17.8% last year, with Korean exports to ASEAN amounting to US$46 billion and imports totalling US$38.6 billion. Since 1962, Korean investments in the ASEAN region have increased to US$12.8 billion, representing 18.3% of RoK’s total investments globally.
The ACS is composed of the Heads of Mission of the 10 ASEAN member-nations in the Republic of Korea (RoK). The ACS is tasked to promote ASEAN activities in the host country. Chairmanship is rotated every six months among the members in alphabetical order.
The ACS which is composed of the Heads of Mission of the 10 ASEAN member-nations in the RoK
is tasked to promote ASEAN activities in the host country.
Some of the ACS Sub-Committee members witnessing the ceremony.
