Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN meets in Clark, kicks off ASEAN Summit

THE COMMITTEE of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN (CPR) met last Nov. 10 in Clark, Pampanga, starting a series of official meetings that will culminate with the 31st ASEAN Summit and Related Summits on Nov. 13 to 14 in Manila.

The CPR, which facilitates ASEAN cooperation with Dialogue Partners and other external parties, discussed some outcome documents for adoption by the 20th ASEANChina Summit, 5th ASEAN- United States Summit, 20th ASEAN Plus Three Summit and 12th East Asia Summit ( EAS).

The CPR also finalized its recommendations, including the annual operational budget of the ASEAN Secretariat, which was submitted to the ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) for approval last Nov. 12. ACC is composed of the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN.

The CPR is composed of the Ambassadors to ASEAN of all 10 ASEAN Member States namely, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The current chair is Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso, permanent representative of the Philippines to ASEAN

Based in Jakarta, the CPR also supports the work of the ASEAN Community Councils and ASEAN Sectoral Ministerial Bodies, coordinates with ASEAN National Secretariats, liaises with the Secretary- General of ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat on all subjects relevant to its work, and approves ASEAN- related projects.