Cheyenne Suarez

In his message during the 58th Founding Anniversary of the ASEAN on August 8, 2025, Malaysia Prime Minister and ASEAN Chair for 2025 Anwar Ibrahim acknowledged the challenging year of Malaysia’s Chairmanship. He emphasized that ASEAN’s unity is more vital now than ever and that ASEAN must keep investing in skills, infrastructure and institutional capacity / via Wendy Palomo

Article (news)

 ASEAN celebrates 58th founding anniversary in Jakarta

Wendy Palomo

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754710266258viber_image_2025-08-09_08-18-29-592.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Photo: Wendy Palomo"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Photo: Wendy Palomo</em></span></span></span></div><p>JAKARTA, Indonesia — In his message during the 58th Founding Anniversary of the ASEAN on Friday, August 8, Malaysia Prime Minister and ASEAN Chair for 2025 Anwar Ibrahim acknowledged the challenging year of Malaysia’s chairmanship. </p><p>He emphasized that ASEAN’s unity is more vital now than ever and that ASEAN must keep investing in skills, infrastructure and institutional capacity.</p><p>Malaysia’s focus on growth that is inclusive, sustainable, and broadly-shared in the region is the legacy he hopes to pass on the Philippines who will be assuming the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/8/philippines-to-push-for-binding-south-china-sea-code-during-asean-2026-chairmanship-marcos-1944"><strong>Philippines to push for South China Sea code during ASEAN 2026 chairmanship: Marcos</strong></a></div><p>Anwar also announced Timor-Leste’s accession as the 11th Member-State of the ASEAN this year:</p><p>“We are also pleased that Timor-Leste’s accession is moving forward. ASEAN’s strength lies in its openness and willingness of its members to support one another’s development. When Timor-Leste becomes the 11th Member-State, ASEAN will be complete representing all of the geographic Southeast Asia”.</p><p>Sugiono, Indonesia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, is also looking forward to the addition of Timor-Leste. He looked back to the modest beginning of ASEAN when the five Founding Members from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Singapore chose diplomacy by signing the ASEAN Declaration on August 8, 1967 amidst Cold War tension. </p><p>He added, “ASEAN was not born in ideal condition. Yet, it endured. And from that modest beginning, ASEAN has become a family of 10 – and soon-to-be 11- with the accession of Timor Leste.”</p><p>ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn reflects on ASEAN’s journey as a regional community. </p><p>ASEAN’s greatest strength lies not in our institutions but in our enduring commitment to peace, cooperation, and unity in diversity. We are more than a regional organization. We are a family of nations bound by trust and a shared vision for a better future”, he said.</p><p>The ASEAN Day was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of ASEAN-related entities, business leaders, and representatives from the youth and the academe.</p><div> </div><div><strong>ASEAN DAY FOOD FESTIVAL</strong></div><p>Culinary heritage was highlighted by each member-state during the ASEAN Day Food Festival, also held on Friday. </p><p>Each of the 10 ASEAN member-states, along Timor-Leste and ASEAN’s External Partners showcased their country’s cuisines, offering guests a taste of the region’s rich and diverse food culture.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754710357415viber_image_2025-08-09_08-22-30-916.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Photo: Wendy Palomo"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Photo: Wendy Palomo</em></span></span></span></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/28/-friend-to-all-enemy-to-none-marcos-says-ph-foreign-policy-unchanged-1746"><strong>&#x27;Friend to all, enemy to none&#x27;: Marcos says PH foreign policy unchanged</strong></a></div><p>ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn was joined by Minister Sugiono from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in formally opening the festival. The event is annually organized and hosted by the ASEAN Women Circle.</p><p>The wide variety of flavors representing the culinary identity of each participating country gave guests a unique opportunity to experience ASEAN’s cultural diversity through food.</p>

<p>In his message during the 58th Founding Anniversary of the ASEAN on August 8, Malaysia Prime Minister and ASEAN Chair for 2025 Anwar Ibrahim acknowledged the challenging year of Malaysia’s Chairmanship.</p>

In his message during the 58th Founding Anniversary of the ASEAN on August 8, Malaysia Prime Minister and ASEAN Chair for 2025 Anwar Ibrahim acknowledged the challenging year of Malaysia’s Chairmanship.