On the image: Ambassador Sopharath Touch (Cambodia) signs the Golden Book of Bremen as her colleagues from Australia (Lynette Wood), the Philippines (Theresa Dizon de Vega), Nepal (Ramesh Khanal) and Singapore (Laurence Bay) await their turn.
Friday, 28 February 2020, Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, Germany: the East Asian Association Bremen (OAV) hosted its traditional foundation festival for the 119th time.
On this occasion, the President of the Senate, Mayor Dr. Andreas Bovenschulte received ambassadors and representatives of the states from the Asia-Pacific region (i.e., Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Cambodia, Laos, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore and Sri Lanka) as well as the guests of honour.
The traditional temple gong called the approximately 300 guests to the Upper Hall of the City Hall for a festive dinner, where they were solemnly welcomed by OAV Chairman Thomas Kriwat (Chief Executive Officer of the Mercmarine Group and Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka) in a short speech.
Cooperation makes a better world possible
Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte underlined the importance of international trade and advocated fair trade relations: “We must work together. Cooperation makes a better world possible.”
The mayor thanked: “For well over 100 years, the East Asian Association Bremen has been doing extremely commendable work – not only when it comes to organising and supporting concrete contacts between Bremen and its Asian partners. Above all, the mutual understanding for each other and mutual tolerance is strengthened by this work. This is of crucial importance, because only if the traditions and values of another culture are met with respect and understanding, a prosperous and profitable cooperation is possible.
For further information:
Government of Bremen: https://www.senatspressestelle.bremen.de/
Eastern Asian Association Bremen: https://www.oav-bremen.de
—————–
Picture by Bremen Senatspressestelle
