The ambassadors to the Philippines of the ASEAN member countries called on Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo today to personally convey their congratulations on assuming the leadership of the Department of Foreign Affairs. During their call, the ASEAN ambassadors also pledged their full cooperation towards further strengthening bilateral and regional relations.

As the most senior ASEAN envoy, Myanmar Ambassador U Thin Htun spoke on behalf of the ASEAN ambassadors, telling Secretary Romulo that “the ambassadors of the ASEAN member states warmly welcome your appointment and offer our heartfelt congratulations.” Ambasador U Thin also said that “I speak on behalf of the ASEAN ambassadors in pledging to you our full cooperation in working for the strengthening of relations between the Philippines and our respective countries and in building stronger regional ties and relations.”

On his part, Secretary Romulo expressed his appreciation for the kind and warm gesture of the ASEAN ambassadors and that he “too looks forward to working closely with them in the tradition of close and warm ties existing between ASEAN member countries.”

Ambassador U Thin also expressed appreciation for the fact that ASEAN continues to be one of the elements of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s eight-point realities. The ASEAN ambassadors also conveyed the invitation of their governments for Secretary Romulo to visit their respective countries, a customary practice for new ASEAN foreign ministers. The Secretary accepted the invitation and said that the schedule for the visits will be coordinated through diplomatic channels.

Present during the call were Myanmar Ambassador U Tin Htun, Laotian Ambassador Phiane Philakone, Thai Ambassador Busba Bunnag, Brunei Ambassador Hajah Maimunah Dato Paduka Haji Elias, Vietnamese Ambassador Dinh Tich, Singaporean Ambassador Lim Kheng Hua, Cambodian Ambassador Choeung Buntheng, Indonesian Charge d’Affaires Alexander Laturiuw, and Malaysian Charge d’Affaires Mahinder Singh.

The following Department officials were also present: Assistant Secretary Susan Castrence of the Office of ASEAN Affairs, Assistant Secretary Jose Zaide of the Office of Protocol, Executive Director Tess Lazaro of the Office of Asia and Pacific Affairs and Director Domingo Nolasco of the Southeast Asia Division, Office of Asia and Pacific Affairs.