On 2 August 2025, all six Embassies of ASEAN countries in Budapest, namely Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam, organised a Charity Bazaar to celebrate the ASEAN Day (8 August 1967), marking the 58^th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The event took place at the Embassy of Malaysia, as the Chair of ASEAN in 2025.

The event was attended by all the Ambassadors and Chargé d’Affaires of the six resident Embassies in Budapest, and high-ranking officials and representatives from the Hungarian Parliament and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, as well as the diplomatic corps, Hungarian private entrepreneurs with relations to ASEAN countries, students from ASEAN countries in Hungary, and the general public.

ASEAN Charity Day — Photo: Laos’ Embassy in Hungary

The opening ceremony was presided over by the ASEAN Ambassadors and Chargé d’Affaires, as well as H.E. Mr. István Jakab, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary, as the guest of honour.

Ms. Vanitha Gopalakrishnan, chargé d’affaires of Malaysia, as host, delivered her welcoming remarks. She shared ASEAN’s latest development on the deliverables of ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, and the plans to strengthen the partnership between ASEAN and Hungary.

H.E. Mrs. Maria Elena P. Algabre, Ambassador of the Philippines to Hungary, as the Ambassador of the upcoming Chair of ASEAN in 2026, delivered the remarks on behalf of other ASEAN Embassies in Budapest. She recalled ASEAN’s founding in 1967 and its evolution into a strong, influential regional organisation promoting peace, prosperity, and cooperation among its ten member states and external partners.

She highlighted ASEAN’s growing partnership with Hungary, marked by six resident ASEAN embassies in Budapest and deepening collaboration in trade, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. She also expressed hope for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, reflecting shared values of peace and dialogue.

Looking ahead, she also drew attention to the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship in 2026, with key priorities likely focusing on peace and security, maritime cooperation, and climate change. She concluded with a call to renew commitment to ASEAN’s founding principles and to work together in unity and mutual respect.

H.E. Mr. István Jakab, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary, gave a keynote speech as the guest of honour. He extended his congratulations to ASEAN for its accomplishments over the past sixty years. He also conveyed his confidence that ASEAN will continue to play a central and increasingly influential role in promoting peace, stability, and cooperation in the region.

Furthermore, he emphasised the importance of deepening the strategic partnership between ASEAN and the European Union, grounded in the principles of equality, mutual respect, and shared interests. In addition, he expressed a strong desire to broaden Hungary’s bilateral relations with ASEAN member states across several key areas, including cooperation between parliaments, the development of infrastructure, the promotion of renewable energy solutions, sustainable water management, trade and investment, official development assistance (ODA), and educational exchanges.

The Charity Bazaar was held from 11.00 AM until 15.00 PM. The event welcomed more than 300 guests. The ASEAN Embassies will donate all the proceeds of the event to the Diplomatic Spouses of Budapest Association, which will organise the yearly Diplomatic Charity Bazaar in November 2025. The final proceeds will be donated to charity.