The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand by the Department of ASEAN Affairs and Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs, is organizing activities commemorating the 50^th Anniversary of ASEAN. This includes the “50^th Anniversary of ASEAN Special Lecture Series” with the Honourable Julie Bishop MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia, as Keynote Speaker, on 3 August 2017, from 10.30 to 13.00 hrs., at Vithes Samosorn, during her official visit to Thailand. The commemorative activities aim to promote Thailand’s leading role as co-founder of ASEAN, emphasize ASEAN’s growing role in the Asia-Pacific region, and raise public awareness about ASEAN.

             Activities also include an ASEAN Day Reception hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, an exhibition on the 50^th Anniversary of ASEAN with special display of replica of the ASEAN Declaration signed by its founding fathers in Bangkok in 1967 in front of Vithes Samosorn, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.

             These activities are parts of commemorative events marking ASEAN’s 50^th Anniversary, on 8 August 2017. Regional ceremony will take place in Manila as the Philippines is ASEAN’s chair in 2017. Meanwhile, in Thailand, “the 50^th Anniversary of ASEAN Special Lecture Series” was initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand to raise awareness about ASEAN throughout this year. This Special Lecture by the Honourable Julie Bishop MP will be the third in the series. Approximately 200 participants are expected to attend the activities, including ambassadors from ASEAN countries, diplomatic corps, representatives from international organizations, government and public sector, media and academia.

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