Philippine Ambassador to Portugal Celia Anna M. Feria formally accepted the biannual Chairmanship of the ASEAN Committee in Lisbon Portugal (ACLP) from the Indonesian Ambassador to Portugal, Rudy Alfonso, in a handover ceremony held on July 12, 2023 at the Official Residence of the Indonesian Ambassador.
Present at the ceremony were the Thai ambassador to Portugal, Krongkanit Rakcharoen, and the special guest of the ACLP, the East Timorese ambassador to Portugal, Isabel Amaral Guterres.
In her speech, Ambassador Feria expressed her appreciation to the outgoing President and his team for their commendable efforts and leadership over the past six months. She also thanked the presence of Ambassador Guterres and the important milestones achieved for the eventual accession of East Timor to ASEAN.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UN Thailand jointly held the workshop “Youth for the SDGs: Embracing a Sustainable Future”
This is the fifth ACLP Presidency for Ambassador Feria since her arrival in Portugal in 2017. Over the years, the Philippine Embassy, together with ACLP members, has actively promoted ASEAN identity and awareness in Portugal and has engaged the country from an ASEAN multilateral perspective.
Under the Philippine Presidency, from July to December 2023, a series of proposed activities are planned, including the publication of an article on ASEAN Day on August 8, to celebrate the achievements and contributions of the ASEAN over the years; an ASEAN exhibition at the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighting ASEAN-EU relations; a visit to Madeira in September, a meeting with the new director of the Agência para o Investimento e Comércio Externo de Portugal (AICEP) to discuss investment possibilities and priorities between ASEAN and Portugal, an ASEAN sports tournament that will foster friendly competition and camaraderie among ACLP members and an online cookbook of delicious recipes from ASEAN cuisine.
The Philippine Embassy, together with ACLP members, has actively promoted ASEAN identity and awareness in Portugal
These activities aim to strengthen economic ties, boost trade and investment, and promote culture and tourism between ASEAN and Portugal.