Several artists from the Jakarta Tourism and Culture Center welcomed at least 100 guests from the embassies of the ASEAN countries, embassies of the ASEAN partner countries, and the Chinese government agencies, and sang the Lenggang Nyai songs.
After singing the Lenggang Nyai (derived from Betawi or Jakarta), the artists continued singing the Soleram from Riau Province and Yamko Rambe Yamko from Papua.
The choral group who came from Jakarta to Beijing also participated in the Joy Dancing Festival.
In addition to this, the flag-raising ceremony of the ASEAN countries was held at the front yard of the Indonesian embassy.
Indonesian ambassador to China Soegeng Rahardjo, who was the Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Beijing, said that as the sixth largest global economic power, the countries in the Southeast Asia region had contributed significantly to the growth of the world economy.
Meanwhile, the Philippines ambassador Jose Santiago Santa Romana conveyed the message of President Rodrigo Duterte, as Chair of ASEAN in 2017, saying that the ASEAN played an important role in the future of the Asia Pacific region.
On the occasion, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou, who attended the event, conveyed the message of President Xi Jinping, who appreciated the important role played by the ASEAN in maintaining the trend of multipolar world.
China, according to him, will continue to maintain the spirit of peace, sincerity, mutual benefit, inclusiveness, and take advantage of the 15th anniversary of the China-ASEAN Strategic Partnership in 2018.
Reported by M. Irfan Ilmie
(B003/INE)
EDITED BY INE.
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017
