The ASEAN Honour Day was held on December 13 with a series of activities, including the opening ceremony and movie video showcasing the region’s diversity, within the framework of the World Expo 2020 Dubai.

Illustrative image (Photo: businessoffashion.com)

According to the communiqué issued by the ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN Secretary General Dato Lim Jock Hoi and the United Arab Emirates Minister of State (Cabinet) Ahmed Bin Ali Al Sayegh officiated the opening ceremony, which was witnessed by officials from both sides, the World Expo organisers and thousands of visitors at the site and viewers online.

In his opening speech, Lim said ‘’The ASEAN Pavilion’s theme of ‘Creating Opportunities for the Peoples of ASEAN’ showcases our journey in building a prosperous regional Community underpinned by peace and stability”.

He added “Together with the other ten unique Pavilions of ASEAN membersStates, we want to provide an experience of the warmth, hospitality and generosity that our peoples are known for, and to discover the boundless opportunities that Southeast Asia has to offer regardless of your interest, be it business, tourism, academic or cultural.”

Minister Al Sayegh, for his part, noted that “ASEAN’s participation highlights its regional integration story and showcases a multitude of rich cultures, while inspiring us to adopt ASEAN’s value of unity in diversity, an element that is reflected in its pursuit of inclusive development”.

Designed as a one-stop centre for those who want to understand ASEAN’s role in the development of the region, the ASEAN Pavillion provides a glimpse of the individual member countries’ cultural highlights. A variety of activities allow visitors to experience ASEAN culture through the architectural puzzles, a digital quiz, and display of cultural artefacts.

National and Honour Days are observed to commemorate the joining of each of the 200-plus international participants at the Expo 2020 Dubai, shining a light on their culture and achievements and showcasing their pavilions and programming.

Running until 31 March 2022, the Expo 2020 Dubai is a global gathering of nations dedicated to finding solutions to pressing challenges of the era.  Visitors from around the world are welcomed to witness the celebration of human creativity, innovation, and progress through engaging and immersive activities.

Source: VNA