ASEAN Association of South East Asian Nations : Colombia expresses interest in forging closer relations with ASEAN

JAKARTA, 13 January 2017 - Colombia expressed interest to forge closer relations with ASEAN and its Member States. This was conveyed by the new Ambassador of Colombia to ASEAN, José Renato Salazar Acosta, as he presented his credentials to the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Le Luong Minh yesterday. Secretary-General Minh congratulated Ambassador Salazar Acosta for assuming his new post and looked forward to working together in strengthening relations between ASEAN and Colombia.

Secretary-General Minh commended the develoments in Colombia with the signing of the peace agreement in November 2016 to end the 50-year-long conflict in the country and expressed hope that the reconciliation process would proceed smoothly. To this end, Ambassador Salazar Acosta conveyed his optimism that the peace deal would boost economic development in the country, increase tourism and encourage social progress for the people of Colombia.

Ambassador Salazar Acosta expressed Colombia's interest to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN especially in areas of trade and investment including through the Pacific Alliance. Recognising the economic potentials of both regions, Secretary-General Minh highlighted the importance of enhancing economic cooperation and connectivity as prioritised in the ASEAN-Pacific Alliance Framework for Cooperation that was adopted by the 3 ASEAN-Pacific Alliance Ministerial Meeting held on the sidelines of the 71 United Nations General Assembly in New York in September last year.

Ambassador Acosta congratulated ASEAN on its 50 anniversary of its establishment this year and looked forward to exploring further cooperation with ASEAN especially as Colombia assumes the presidency of the Pacific Alliance in the second half of 2017.

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