The booth of the Vietnamese Embassy in Hungary at the event. (Photo: VNA)

On August 8, in Budapest, the Embassy of the Philippines in Hungary in collaboration with the Embassies of ASEAN member states - Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam - hosted a ceremony marking the 59th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The event was attended by numerous guests, including representatives of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, government agencies, the diplomatic corps, international organizations, businesses, academia, ASEAN communities in Hungary, as well as ambassadors, diplomats and staff members of ASEAN embassies.

According to VNA correspondents in Central and Eastern Europe, delivering the opening remarks, Maria Elena P. Algabre, Ambassador of the Philippines to Hungary and representative of the ASEAN Chair in 2026, highlighted the significance of ASEAN's 59-year journey of establishment and development since 1967.

The Philippine Ambassador affirmed that ASEAN has continuously strengthened its central role in the regional architecture, promoting peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development, while remaining a trusted partner of the international community amid numerous developments and uncertainties in the regional and global landscape.

Reviewing the priorities of the 2026 ASEAN Chairmanship, the Ambassador highlighted key areas of focus, including promoting regional peace and security, strengthening maritime cooperation, addressing climate change, advancing digital transformation, enhancing supply chain resilience, and promoting inclusive, people-centered development.

She emphasized that, with solidarity and consensus, ASEAN will continue to play its role as a driving force for regional cooperation and make positive contributions to peace, stability and shared prosperity.

Representatives of the ASEAN embassies in Hungary also affirmed the increasingly expanding cooperation between ASEAN and Hungary in the fields of politics and diplomacy, economy, education, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

The active presence of ASEAN diplomatic missions in Hungary continues to contribute to greater mutual understanding, broaden substantive cooperation and deepen relations between Hungary and ASEAN.

Attending and speaking at the ceremony, Klara Breuer, State Secretary at the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Hungarian Government, congratulated ASEAN on its 59th anniversary and spoke highly of the notable achievements ASEAN has made over nearly six decades.

The Hungarian Government expressed its wish to continue promoting cooperation with ASEAN across various fields, while affirming that it considers ASEAN one of its important partners in the Asia-Pacific region.

In a warm and friendly atmosphere, the anniversary ceremony featured a range of special artistic performances jointly presented by the ASEAN embassies, showcasing the diverse cultural identities of the member states.

The ASEAN food area was another highlight of the event, offering traditional dishes distinctive to each country, contributing to the promotion of cultural values and strengthening exchanges between the ASEAN community and international friends.

The 59th anniversary celebration of ASEAN in Budapest once again affirmed the spirit of solidarity, cooperation and responsibility among member states in building a peaceful, stable and prosperous ASEAN Community that is people-oriented, while also contributing to the further strengthening of the growing friendship and cooperation between ASEAN and Hungary.

Building the ASEAN community successfully becomes a top priority At the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) held online on July 16, ASEAN members emphasized that building the ASEAN Community successfully is a top priority of the bloc despite the challenges posed by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Fostering the ASEAN community ties with South Africa Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa Hoang Van Loi, who is also Chair of the ASEAN Pretoria Committee (APC), has written an article on the occasion of the 53rd founding anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Following is the full text of the article which was published on August 7 by Pretoria News in both print and online versions.