Thailand celebrates 47th anniversary of ASEAN

BANGKOK, August 8 (TNA) - Thailand celebrates the 47th anniversary of the ASEAN establishment on August 8, when activities relating to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are organised. Presided over by Thai Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Manasvi Srisodapol, Friday's event, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok, was attended by ASEAN ambassadors to Thailand, two former ASEAN secretaries-general Pan Wannamathee and Surin Pitsuwan, as well as teachers and students from 80 schools nationwide. This year’s celebrations of the ASEAN establishment in Bangkok was arranged to also inform youths of Thailand’s role in ASEAN and national preparations for the formation of the ASEAN Community (AC) by the end of 2015. Friday's activities include a competition on answering to questions concerning ASEAN, in which students from across Thailand joined and an exhibition relating to the AC and the 100th anniversary of Dr. Thanat Khoman. Dr. Thanat was among five foreign ministers, considered ASEAN’s founding fathers, who signed the "Bangkok Declaration" on the establishment of ASEAN on August 8, 1967. The other four foreign ministers were those of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore. Other member countries, including Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar joined ASEAN later.(TNA)