L-R- Ambassadors of Myanmar, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia (back), Cambodia (front), Brunei, Philippines, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam (CDA a.i.)

8 December – H.E. Ambassador Manuel M. Lopez, Philippine Ambassador to Japan and currently Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Tokyo (ACT),  composed of ten (10) ASEAN Ambassadors, handed over today the ACT chairmanship to H.E. Hor Monirath, Ambassador of Cambodia,  for the term , January-June  2012. Today’s meeting of ASEAN Ambassadors at the Philippine Ambassador’s Official Residence is the third of the series of ACT meetings organized by Philippines since assuming chairmanship in July this year. Ambassador and Madam Lopez hosted today an ASEAN Christmas luncheon for ASEAN Ambassadors, Mesdames and other officials from the ASEAN missions.

As chair, the Philippines coordinated ASEAN activities and meetings with Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Diet, local government and business groups. ASEAN Ambassadors paid  a joint courtesy  call on Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba on November 30, 2011 after his appointment under the cabinet of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda.

The Philippine Embassy organized and  chaired three (3)  ASEAN meetings in Tokyo  this year. Ambassador Lopez  led the Ambassadors in meeting local officials of Nagoya City and  Aichi Prefecture in October  and with visiting ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan in September.  ASEAN Ambassadors also met with the President of the House of Councillors of the Diet in July. Ambassador Lopez also hosted a luncheon in July for ASEAN Ambassadors with Nikkei Chairman, Ryoki Sugita as guest.

The ACT organizes the annual ASEAN Family Day, ACT Bowling Tournament and ACT Golf Tournament. ACT chairmanship rotates every six (6) months.

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