The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a ceremony at its headquarters in Hanoi on August 7 to fly the ASEAN flag in celebration of the bloc’s 48th founding anniversary (August 8, 1967).

Participants included senior ministerial officials, along with Venezuelan Ambassador to Vietnam Jorge Rondon Uzcategui – the Deputy Head of the diplomatic corps in Hanoi, and representatives of the embassies of ASEAN member states.

ASEAN flag hoisted. Photo: vnexpress.net

The annual ASEAN flag hoisting ceremony is held in each ASEAN member state to honour their common values and express the determination to promote solidarity and cooperation.

This year’s event is of greater significance since the region is working towards the establishment of the ASEAN Community at the end of 2015 and Vietnam is marking its 20th year of ASEAN membership.

The ASEAN flag’s colours – blue, red, white and yellow – represent the main colours of the member countries’ flags. It symbolizes unity and support for the bloc’s principles and mission, and represents a stable, peaceful, united and dynamic ASEAN.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Source: VNA