JAKARTA (Bernama) -- Friendship and cooperation among Asean Member States extend beyond official meetings, with culinary diplomacy also serving as a bridge to deepen cultural understanding and strengthen regional solidarity.
Asean Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn said shared experiences, particularly through food and cultural exchanges, helped bring communities closer together despite their cultural differences.
"Gatherings like this show that our friendship and cooperation grow not only through official meetings, but also through shared experiences and the genuine delight in one another's culture, food and friendship,” he said in his speech at the Malaysia Truly Asia: Malaysian Flavours programme held at the Asean Secretariat building, here, on Monday.
The programme, attended by about 350 members of the Asean community, was organised by the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to Asean and Malaysians working at the secretariat to promote cultural diplomacy and strengthen regional ties, in line with Malaysia's Foreign Ministry Strategic Plan 2026-2030.
Kao said centuries of trade, migration and cultural exchanges had shaped the region's diverse food traditions, bringing communities together and creating connections among its peoples despite their differences.
Meanwhile, Malaysia's Permanent Representative to Asean, Ambassador Datin Sarah Al Bakri Devadason said food had long served as a means of welcoming people, fostering goodwill and expressing care within Malaysian society.
She said Malaysia believed that cultural understanding was essential to building lasting friendships, citing the Malay saying tak kenal maka tak cinta, which means "to know is to love”.
"Friendships between nations are built around dining tables as well as negotiating tables. Here at the Asean Secretariat, our community is the Asean family. Hence, it feels only right to bring this programme to you here in our Asean home with the help of the Malaysians at the Asean Secretariat,” she said.
Sarah said the programme was part of a wider initiative by Malaysian diplomatic missions worldwide, which work with Malaysians overseas to share the country’s cultural diversity, values and traditions with their host communities.
The event also supported the Malaysian Synergy Programme Abroad (PSRM), which emphasises cultural diplomacy and cooperation among Malaysians overseas, while promoting Bahasa Melayu internationally through traditional music and a karaoke session featuring Malay songs.
-- BERNAMA
