ASEAN 50 Parade Held in Jakarta

Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi opens the ASEAN 50 Parade on Sunday (27/8), in Jakarta

Unlike other weeks, there was an unusual sight on this week’s Car Free Day (CFD). The long-awaited ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nation) 50 Parade took place.

On Sunday (27/8), more than 3,000 people wearing colorful costumes flocked to the roads from National Monument (Monas) to Hotel Indonesia Traffic Circle to celebrate the ASEAN’s golden jubilee in Jakarta.

The event was not only attended by Indonesia’s communities, organizations, schools, companies, and ministries but also those from ASEAN member countries, dialogue partners, and secretariats.

The Parade, which was opened by Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, Jakarta Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat, and ASEAN General Secretary Le Luong Minh, is part of a series of the Commemoration of the 50^th Anniversary of ASEAN.

In its golden age, ASEAN has served as a community and family and this Parade is expected to show people that ASEAN is full of diversities; yet it has common objectives, namely regional prosperity, security, and stability. The Parade was also expected to bring Jakarta community closer to ASEAN and affirm the position of Jakarta as the Southeast Asia’s diplomatic capital.

The participation of more than 600 volunteers which are mostly college students and young executive indicated the enthusiasm of the young generation to be engaged in ASEAN-related activities.

In the meantime, Retno Marsudi in her remarks said, “The future of ASEAN lies in our hands, all Jakarta community, all Indonesians. Through this event, you will be the motor of ASEAN development in creating a safe, peaceful, and prosper region.”

Besides showcasing of cultural and costumes attractions from several regions in Indonesia, as well as from friendly countries, 50 finalists of ASEAN Youth Ambassadors also put on performance in the Parade in their respective traditional attires.

For the record, from 50 finalists, two people (one couple) were awarded as the ASEAN Youth Ambassadors at the Grand Final of ASEAN Youth Ambassadors on Tuesday (29/8) at Balai Sarbini. Also in that Parade, the winners of the “ASEAN Photo Contest” and “ASEAN Vloggers Competition 2017” were announced.

The Parade was also enlivened by the presence of two public figures, Nicholas Saputra and Chelsea Islan, who are ASEAN 50 key persons.

The Parade was organized by Minister of Foreign Affairs and supported by Jakarta Government, Ministry of Communication and Informatics, Ministry of State-owned Enterprises, Ministry of Tourism, Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf), ASEAN Secretariat, and Kompas TV. (Humas Kemlu/EN)(RA/EP/YM/Naster)