29 May 2017
29-May-2017
Source: ASEAN Secretariat News
South Asian mountaineering expedition to highlight ASEAN-India partnership
JAKARTA, 29 May 2017 – The Indian Mission to ASEAN at Jakarta, in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia and ASEAN Secretariat, organised a tri-flag handing over ceremony today at ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta. Dr. AKP Mochtan, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs; Amb. Jose Tavares, Director-General for ASEAN Cooperation; and Suresh K. Reddy, Ambassador of India to ASEAN handed over the ASEAN, Indonesian, and Indian flags respectively to the South Asian Mountaineering Team, led by an Indian National, Satyarup Siddhanta. The team will make an attempt to climb Puncak Jaya or Carstensz Pyramid (4884 m), one of the highest mountain in ASEAN and plant the three flags there.
The friendly expedition is an event to bring India and ASEAN closer through sporting events, which can act as a catalyst to improve the people-to-people relations. The mountaineering team also aims to spread the message on sustainable development of the world, particularly for the vulnerable people in island countries.
India and ASEAN are commemorating 25 years of dialogue relations, 15 years of summit level relations and five years of strategic relations this year. This will also coincide with the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN. This mountaineering event is part of the commemorative celebrations to be held throughout the year in India and ASEAN countries. The commemorative activities cover various sectors of India-ASEAN engagement and give special emphasis on people-to-people connectivity.
Further, the commemoration will involve a number of cultural activities such as ASEAN-India Joint Cultural Performances in performing arts, dance, music, food, films, etc. There is special emphasis on ASEAN-India Youth in these activities – and this mountaineering expedition is one of the many ASEAN-India youth activities planned during the year.
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