On 3 September 2022, H.E. Ms. Vimolbajra Ruksakiati, Ambassador of Thailand to Norway, attended the ASEAN Family Day at the residence of H.E. Mr. Todung Mulya Lubis, Ambassador of Indonesia to Norway. H.E. Mr. Enrico Trinidad Fos, Ambassador of the Philippines to Norway, as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Oslo (ACO) hosted this year’s event. The event was also attended by H.E. Ms. Maw Maw, Ambassador of Myanmar in Norway, H.E. Mr. Le Hong Lam, Ambassador of Vietnam to Norway, and about 80 members of diplomats, embassy’s officials and family members of the five ASEAN Embassies in Norway.

 

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Fos highlighted the importance of ASEAN as this year ASEAN celebrates its 55th Anniversary. ASEAN has become the core institution in Southeast Asia and has been shaping regional peace and stability, regional cooperation, and engagement with the world. Presently, ASEAN is the 5th largest economy in the world with gross domestic product of 3.2 trillion USD and total population of 700 million. Therefore, ASEAN’s economy has great potential to expand and is expected to become the 4th largest economy in the world by 2030. In Norway, from the total of 819,556 immigrants, 26 percent are from Southeast Asia. Thus, ASEAN citizen in Norway should uphold ASEAN identity, especially the commitment of not leaving anyone behind #ASEAN #strongertogether

 

ASEAN Family Day, an annual event in Oslo, offered a good opportunity to strengthen ASEAN solidarity and friendship among ASEAN diplomats and their families in Norway. ASEAN Ambassadors, diplomats and their family also joined together in singing the ASEAN Anthem then a karaoke. Delicious traditional food and delicacies from each ASEAN countries were shared during the event.