MFA Press Statement: Opening Ceremony of the First Meeting of the 41st ASEAN Standing Committee, 20 August 2007

Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo opened the 1st meeting of the 41st ASEAN Standing Committee on Monday 20 August 2007 in Singapore. This is the first in a series of ASEAN meetings that Singapore will be hosting on assuming the Chairmanship of ASEAN earlier this month. At the opening ceremony, Minister Yeo also launched the Logo and Website for the year-long Singapore Chairmanship and the 13th ASEAN Summit. (Website address: www.13thaseansummit.org.sg)

The Logo features a stylised 'padi stalk', a distinctive symbol associated with ASEAN. As a staple food common to all 10 ASEAN countries, rice is a key part of ASEAN's heritage. The rice grains symbolise the diversity of the 10 ASEAN member countries. The red ribbon stylised in the letter "a" shows the unifying force that binds ASEAN together. Contemporary, bright and elegant, the logo's personality exudes warmth that reflects Singapore's hospitality, as well as strength and growth that reinforces the theme of One ASEAN at the Heart of Dynamic Asia.

Besides the ASEAN Standing Committee meeting, other ASEAN meetings that will take place in Singapore over the next few days include the 29th Initiative for ASEAN Integration Task Force meeting, the 10th Meeting of the ASEAN Plus Three Directors-General, the 9th Meeting of the High Level Task Force on the ASEAN Charter and the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting.
. . . . . .

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
20 AUGUST 2007