Ambassadors, representatives of diplomatic agencies and international organisations of Southeast Asian countries gathered in Paris on Sept. 6 for a festive night to celebrate the 40th founding anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Artists brought to the “ASEAN Culture Night,” held at the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), various performances and traditional dishes typical of the member countries.

An ASEAN-UNESCO committee (AUC) was debuted on the same day. The committee that involves nine member countries of Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam was set up with a view to increase the active involvement of ASEAN countries in UNESCO’s fields of work.

Present at the night, ASEAN officials underlined their wish and determination to maintain the cultural diversity and increase inter-cultural dialogues among the member countries.

UNESCO Director General Koichiro Matsura highly rated the AUC’s initiative to hold the cultural event which he deemed unique and important for promoting the cultural cooperation among ASEAN countries. He said that he hopes for a closer tie between ASEAN and UNESCO, which was already formed on the basis of the ASEAN-UNESCO cooperation agreement signed in September 1998.

Source: VNA