Embassyline
British Ambassador to Korea Scott Wightman, second from left, poses for a photo during the UK Alumni New Year party at Platoon Kunsthalle in southern Seoul, Friday. From left are: Park Jung-chan, president of Yonhap News Agency; Chung Hee-sun, director of the National Ferensic Service; and Director of the British Council Roland Davies. / Courtesy of the British Embassy
ASEAN-Korea marks center’s 3rd year
By Philip Iglauer
Southeast Asian envoys and Korean government officials met in a reception to commemorate the 3rd Anniversary and the 4th Annual Council Meeting of the ASEAN-Korea Centre in Seoul, Thursday.
The relationship between Korea and the 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has become vital since the end of the Cold War. Since 1990, ASEAN-Korea trade saw a 12-fold rise. Southeast Asia is Korea’s second largest trading partner with some $125 billion in two-way trade. China is Korea’s largest trading partner.
Council directors from the ten member states of the association and Korea met on Friday to adopt the center’s program and budget for the coming fiscal year.
2nd Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Min Dong-seok delivered welcoming remarks and Cambodian Ambassador to Korea Ky Sim Chan delivered a keynote speech during the reception. Cambodia assumed chairmanship of the association from Indonesia in a symbolic transfer of leadership at the closing ceremony of the 19th ASEAN Summit in Bali on in November 2011.
The center was established in 2009 on the 20th anniversary since Korea and the association began meeting to forge closer ties. The center’s mandate is to enhance trade, investment, tourism and otherwise closer relations and understanding.
ASEAN-Korea relations were lifted to a "strategic partnership" and the Korean government recently intiated a "New Asia Diplomatic Initiative."
Sri Lanka holds huge independence day
Annual celebrations for Sri Lankan independence have increased in importance for the South Asian nation’s diplomatic mission here in Korea as it labored to be more inclusive of the 1,000s of Sri Lankan workers residing in and around Seoul.
This year, on the 64 anniversary of its independence, the Sri Lankan Embassy in Seoul marked largest-ever celebrations with a ceremony and staff party at its nely minted chancery on Feb. 4 and large-scale event in Ansan City, Feb. 5.
Korean friends of Sri Lanka and some 1,000 Sri Lankan migrant workers Olympic Memorial Hall in Ansan City 35 kilometers from Seoul in Gyeonggi Province celebrated. About 4,000 Sri Lankans live in Ansan.
It is fitting that we pay generous tribute to our heroic forces for the sacrifices they have made and the courage and determination they have demonstrated, in eradicating terrorism and protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka, said Sri Lankan Ambassador to Korea Tissa Wijeratne.
State Dance Troupe performed accompanied by Sri Lankan drummers and traditional music and Sri Lankan singer Visharada Deepika Priyadarshani, described as the country’s most popular female vocalist, regaled the assembled revellers. The Prathibha Kala Cultural Association of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) also entertained the audience.
Deputy Mayor of Ansan City Jeong Seung-bong and Ambassador Park Hae-Yun, director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade participated as guests of honor.
The embassy credited broad base of support for making its first large-scale National Day celebration a success, including the Ansan City mayor and city council, the Migrant Support Centre, the Ansan City Migrant Centre, the Lanka & International Food Imports Company, the Sri Lankan Associations in South Korea, and the Ansan United Independent Association.
