Last week (7/4) on car freeday, the European Union (EU) and the ASEAN Secretariat organised the first ever EU-ASEAN Run, bringing together over 1,700 European and ASEAN citizens on Jalan Sudirman and Jalan Sisingamangaraja. This year’s special edition of the annual EU Run is held together with ASEAN to commemorate a ‘triple anniversary’ 40 years of EU-ASEAN partnership, 50 years since the founding of ASEAN and 60 years of the Treaties of Rome and the establishment of the EU.
"This run is a very concrete example of people-to-people exchange between ASEAN and EU. It is a showcase of ASEAN and EU closeness and great sharing of our respective cultural diversity and richness," said AKP Mochtan, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs Department.
“The EU-ASEAN Run is a wonderful way to embrace people-to-people contacts which are the core part of EU-Indonesia as well as EU-ASEAN relations. It has brought us all together to run, or walk, learn more about the EU and ASEAN, to enjoy the cuisine of our respective South East Asian and European Member States all for a good cause,” said Francisco Fontan, EU Ambassador to ASEAN.
The run took place along the main streets of Jakarta over seven kilometres. It started at 6:30 in the morning at Intiland Tower the office building of the EU and the finish line was at the ASEAN Secretariat. There, participants joined the festivities to mark the ‘triple anniversary’ and enjoyed the stage performances and games. The entertainment and cultural area featured information and culinary booths from several EU Member States – Belgium, Bulgaria, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Spain, Sweden and all the ten ASEAN Member States. The EU Ambassador to ASEAN as well as the EU Ambassador to Indonesia, other EU and ASEAN Member States Ambassadors, ASEAN Secretariat staff, member and representatives also joined the fun run
In collaboration with the ASEAN Women’s Circle, the runners gathered a donation of more than 75 million rupiah for three foundations supporting the wellbeing of disadvantaged children in Indonesia: Yayasan Al Ikhwan, providing elementary education for children from a low income family or children not eligible for DKI free school programme; Yayasan Onkologi Anak Indonesia, Indonesian Childhood Cancer Foundation; and Yayasan Mpati, providing autism awareness and training for middle to low income parents who have autistic children.
The EU-ASEAN Run was held in the framework of Europe Month 2017. Throughout 2017, there will be events all over Europe and Southeast Asia to mark the three anniversaries, including campaigns, exhibitions, concerts
conferences, and other activities.
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