15 Sep 2017
15-Sep-2017
Source: ASEAN Secretariat News
Secretary-General of ASEAN visits Switzerland to promote ASEAN@50
GENEVA-BERN, 15 September 2017 - Secretary-General of ASEAN Le Luong Minh visited Switzerland from 12 to 14 September to promote ASEAN on the occasion of its golden jubilee. During the visit that came at the invitation of the Swiss Government and the ASEAN Committees in Geneva and Bern, he took the opportunity to further profile ASEAN-Switzerland partnership to key stakeholders in the country.
In Geneva, he joined the panel discussion on ASEAN at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development high level dialogue on the role of regional organisations in promoting integration in the wake of populist and protectionist sentiments globally. He also gave executive briefing on ASEAN to UN agencies and diplomatic corps; attended and delivered key-note speeches at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy and the 36th Session of the UN Human Rights Council.
Secretary-General Minh also delivered opening remarks at the launch of the ASEAN@50 photo exhibition organised by the ASEAN Committee in Geneva in collaboration with the UN Office at Geneva. The event showcased ASEAN’s unity in diversity and drew a large crowd of attendance from the diplomatic corps and representatives of the international community in the city.
In Bern, Secretary-General Minh met with Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Didier Burkhalter, and other high-ranking foreign affairs and economic officials to discuss ways and means to enhance ASEAN-Switzerland partnership. He was also invited to visit and observe the Parliament in session, where he met with President Thomas Aeschi and other members of the Parliament Friendship Group.
Secretary-General Minh witnessed the inauguration of the ASEAN Committee in Bern, comprising ambassadors of ASEAN Member States accredited to Switzerland. He also delivered a key-note speech at a conference on ASEAN-Switzerland partnership.
Members of the ASEAN Committees in Geneva and Bern accompanied Secretary-General Minh throughout the visit.
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