Philippine Embassy in Beijing Celebrates Earth Day by Advocating Sustainable
Development in Southeast Asia
(L-R): Brunei Ambassador Magdalene Teo, Philippine Ambassador Jose Santiago L. Sta. Romana, Singapore Ambassador Stanley Loh (extreme right) and INBAR Director General Hans Friederich leading the bamboo planting activity on 21 April 2017. (Photo credit to INBAR)
To celebrate Earth Day, the Philippine Embassy in Beijing co-organized with the International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation (INBAR), with the support of Zizhuyuan Park, a bamboo planting activity at the Embassy grounds and a Dialogue on “Bamboo and Rattan for Sustainable Development in Southeast Asia” on 21 April 2017 at the Embassy’s Sentro Rizal.
Ambassador Jose Santiago L. Sta. Romana (left photo) and INBAR Director General Dr. Hans Friederich (right photo) delivering their remarks.
Representatives from Southeast Asian Embassies and other members of the diplomatic corps in Beijing, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce and State Forestry Administration, UN Development Programme, UNHCR and UNEP, ASEAN-China Centre and members of various media organizations attended the activity.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Jose Santiago Sta. Romana noted the timeliness of the event, which took place a day before the Paris Agreement on Climate Change took effect in the Philippines. He acknowledged “the contributions of bamboo and rattan to climate change mitigation and adaptation and increased resilience to natural disasters.” He emphasized that “ASEAN accounts for approximately 20% of the global trade in bamboo and rattan and recognizes that, despite their potential to drive green growth and sustainable development in the area, Southeast Asian bamboo and rattan industries are still in their early stages compared to China.”
Dr. Hans Friederich, Director General of INBAR, stressed in his remarks that “bamboo and rattan represent a unique opportunity to promote ASEAN centrality during the 50th anniversary of ASEAN” and outlined INBAR’s proposed vision for future collaboration in priority areas.
INBAR used the occasion to propose its Vision on Bamboo and Rattan for ASEAN Development. - END
During the Dialogue on Bamboo and Rattan for Sustainable Development in Southeast Asia, Indonesia Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Listyowati explains the role of bamboo and rattan in Indonesia. Joining the dialogue are (L-R) Director General Hans Friederich (INBAR), who served as moderator, Deputy Director General Wang Chunfeng (State Forestry Administration of China), Director Huang Ying (ASEAN-China Centre), Senior Policy Advisor Mark van den Boogaard (UNDP) and Minister Ivan Frank M. Olea (Philippines).
First Row (L-R) Deputy Chief of Mission Listyowati (Indonesia), Minister Ivan Frank M. Olea (Philippines), Minister Counsellor Kundhinee Aksornwong (Thailand), Ambassador Magdalene Teo (Brunei), Ambassador Jose Santiago L. Sta. Romana (Philippines), Director General Hans Friederich (INBAR), Ambassador Stanley Loh (Singapore), Director Huang Ying (ASEAN-China Centre), Mr. Wu Ximeng (Zizhuyuan Park), Mr. Wang Chunfeng (State Forestry Administration of China), Executive Deputy Director General Fei Benhua (International Centre for Bamboo and Rattan-ICBR).Second Row (L-R) Second Secretary Choo Hwai Jeng (Malaysia), Third Secretary Muhammad Maulana Akbar (Indonesia), Minister Counsellor Nguyen Thi Thai Thong (Vietnam), Minister Counsellor Sathiane Phouthabandid (Laos), Counsellor Ouk Pheang (Cambodia), Senior Policy Advisor Mark van den Boogard (UNDP), Mrs. Susan Bonniger (INBAR), Deputy Director General Li Zhiyong (INBAR), and Country Program Officer Mr. Sun Yinhong, (IFAD).
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