24 Jan 2020

Year of ASEAN Identity 2020 launched

Jakarta, January 21 (VNA) – The ASEAN Secretariat launched the Year of ASEAN Identity 2020 and presented awards for winners of the Year’s logo design competition on January 21.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Deputy Secretary General in charge of ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Kung Phoak said 2020 is chosen as Year of ASEAN Identity to raise awareness of the public, especially among young generations, about the bloc’s activities and development process.

He said ASEAN is working with member states to promote its identity with activities in the fields of culture, arts, communications, youth and education, with the logo design competition one of them.

In the near future, the bloc will hold a thematic seminar on ASEAN identity, the ASEAN Culture Summit, the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting for Culture and Arts, and publish a report on ASEAN Identity and a magazine on the same theme.

The ASEAN Secretariat will also launch ASEAN resource centres at regional universities’ libraries via the project “ASEAN Corner at libraries”, with 10 universities to be piloted later this year.

German Ambassador to ASEAN Peter Schoof stressed that Berlin commits support for ASEAN in key areas and wants to continue fostering friendship with the grouping.

The organising board also presented the first, second and third prizes to winners at the competition.

Launched in September 2019 under the auspices of the German Corporation for International Cooperation GmbH (GIZ), the competition attracted about 1,400 entries by those aged 18-35 from 10 ASEAN member nations.

ASEAN launches 2020 Year of ASEAN Identity

JAKARTA, 21 January 2020 – ASEAN launched the 2020 Year of ASEAN Identity by unveiling the winning logo of the Logo Design Competition for Youths at the ASEAN Secretariat today. The competition, launched in September 2019 with the support of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), attracted 1,378 submissions from the youth across the ASEAN Member States.

The Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Kung Phoak in his welcome remarks said, “The designation of 2020 as the Year of ASEAN Identity aims to create greater public awareness among our ASEAN citizens especially the youth on ASEAN, and its activities and developments”.

Affirming Germany’s support for ASEAN identity-building, the German Ambassador to Indonesia, Timor Leste and ASEAN Peter Schoof said, “We are very proud to be part of the 2020 Year of ASEAN Identity. Germany is committed to helping ASEAN in various important areas for the organisation and its citizens [and] I look forward to an excellent and friendly relationship in the coming years and beyond.”

The presentations of the top three winners who shared their inspirations behind the design of their logos took place after the unveiling of the winning logo. An exhibition showcasing the winning designs and other submissions was held. To create greater conversations on the efforts to foster ASEAN Identity, an open discussion on identity-building and awareness-raising on ASEAN was also convened.

In attendance were the Permanent Representatives of Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Philippines to ASEAN, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, representatives from GIZ Indonesia, the ASEAN Foundation, university students, and journalists from local and international media.

Several events will be held this year to celebrate the 2020 Year of ASEAN Identity including the ASEAN Identity Symposium. More details will be disseminated through ASEAN’s official website and various media channels.