Prague (VNA) – The ASEAN Committee in the Czech Republic (ACP) held a ceremony in Prague on August 20 to mark the 59th founding anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (August 8, 1967–2026), drawing representatives of the Czech Government, ASEAN embassies and a large number of international guests.
The event helped showcase the image of a united and dynamic ASEAN Community that is "united in diversity", while promoting cooperation between ASEAN and the Czech Republic.
The ceremony drew Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Marie Chatardova, First Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Jan Sechter, ambassadors of ASEAN member states in the Czech Republic, diplomatic officials and hundreds of guests from foreign missions, international organisations and the international community in the country.
This year's event was coordinated by the Thai Embassy, which currently chairs the ASEAN Committee in the Czech Republic, as part of ASEAN Family Day 2026. The annual event aimed to strengthen friendship, solidarity and the sense of community among ASEAN member states while providing international friends with an opportunity to learn about the bloc's history, culture and achievements.
Addressing the ceremony, Thai Ambassador Pichit highlighted ASEAN's nearly-six-decade journey of formation and development, affirming that its ability to maintain dialogue, strengthen cooperation and turn diversity into a driver of development has been a key source of the bloc's strength.
In the coming years, ASEAN aims to build an increasingly resilient, innovative and dynamic community that puts people at the centre, while continuing to promote its centrality in the Indo-Pacific regional architecture, he said.
Strengthening ASEAN's role and voice at regional and international forums will contribute to promoting peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region, he added.
Regarding ASEAN-Czech relations, Pichit noted that despite the geographical distance, the Czech Republic is one of ASEAN's important partners in Central Europe. Bilateral ties have made positive progress across various fields, while considerable potential remains for further cooperation.
Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Marie Chatardova also highlighted ASEAN's increasingly important role on the international stage, saying there was substantial room for further development of relations between the Czech Republic and ASEAN member states.
According to her, ASEAN is emerging as one of the world's major economic centres, with a population of more than 680 million, rapidly growing economies and an increasingly significant role in global trade, investment and manufacturing. These factors offer numerous cooperation opportunities for European partners, including the Czech Republic.
The Czech Republic, meanwhile, has strengths in areas that can complement the development needs of ASEAN countries, including transport infrastructure, energy, medical technology, environmental solutions, defence industries and scientific research.
Cooperation in these fields could generate practical benefits and sustainable value for both sides, the deputy minister said, stressing the importance of people-to-people exchanges in strengthening the Czech-ASEAN partnership.
Closer links between people on both sides are an important foundation for long-term cooperation, helping enhance mutual understanding and generating fresh momentum for collaboration across various fields, she noted.
In particular, the Czech Deputy Foreign Minister acknowledged the contributions of the Vietnamese community in the country. After decades of living, working, doing business and actively participating in Czech society, it has become an integral part of Czech society and an important bridge between the Czech Republic and Southeast Asia, she said.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, ASEAN ambassadors, diplomatic officials and guests enjoyed cultural and art performances as well as traditional dishes from ASEAN member states.
The cultural activities not only showcased the rich history, culture and traditions of ASEAN countries but also provided a space for delegates and international friends to interact and learn more about the diverse cultures of Southeast Asia.
With the theme of “unity in diversity”, the 59th ASEAN anniversary celebration in Prague helped promote the image of a united, dynamic and people-centred ASEAN Community, while reaffirming ASEAN member states' desire to expand partnerships with the Czech Republic and other European countries.
After nearly six decades of development, ASEAN has become one of the world's important regional organisations, playing an increasingly significant role in promoting peace, stability and cooperation in Southeast Asia and the broader regional architecture./.
