ASEAN Cultural and Culinary Fair 2025: Celebrating Diversity and Unity

The ASEAN Cultural and Culinary Fair 2025 in Cambodia celebrates cultural diversity and strengthens solidarity among ASEAN member states.

The ASEAN Cultural and Culinary Fair 2025 in Cambodia is an annual event to honor and introduce the cultural diversity, cuisine and traditions of Southeast Asian countries. (Source: VNA)

This is an annual event to honor and introduce the cultural diversity, cuisine and traditions of Southeast Asian countries, while promoting people-to-people exchange and strengthening solidarity and friendship among member countries of the regional organization.

The ASEAN Bazaar 2025 Cultural and Culinary Fair took place in a friendly and vibrant atmosphere at the Malaysian Embassy in Phnom Penh. Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn attended the event.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Malaysian Ambassador to Cambodia Shaharuddin Onn said that the ASEAN Expo is not just a social activity, but an important event that reflects unity, solidarity and cooperation - the core values ​​of ASEAN, especially in the context of the region facing many challenges. Ambassador Shaharuddin Onn emphasized that ASEAN - built on a solid foundation and commitment, as well as the strong determination of each ASEAN member country - will face and overcome challenges together.

The ASEAN Fair is not only a social activity, it is also an important event, reflecting unity, solidarity and cooperation in ASEAN. (Source: VNA)

Reiterating the theme of Malaysia's ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2025 as "Inclusive and Sustainable", in which ASEAN will expand to 11 members with the admission of Timor Leste at the Summit next October, as well as marking the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the ASEAN Community, Ambassador Shaharuddin Onn affirmed that ASEAN is not only a regional organization on security- politics or politics-economics, but above all, ASEAN is building a regional community that is both culturally diverse and united, based on three mutually supportive pillars: politics-security, economics, culture-society.

According to the Malaysian Ambassador, the fact that the embassies of ASEAN member countries in Cambodia joined hands to organize the event, bringing to the fair performances and products typical of their culture and identity shows the spirit of cooperation, solidarity and friendship of ASEAN. The event is also an opportunity to promote and strengthen people-to-people connections, building a united community.

Expressing his joy at attending the event, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn emphasized that this fair shows the unique features of ASEAN, when each country with diverse traditions, history, and languages ​​gathers like a family, united by friendship and solidarity.

Culture and cuisine are, in many ways, the most natural diplomats, according to Cambodia’s top diplomat. Through them, the fair enhances people-to-people exchanges and mutual understanding, which are the foundations of the ASEAN Community. “These connections make the region more resilient, inclusive and connected,” he stressed.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn (second from left) and Malaysian Ambassador to Cambodia Shaharuddin Onn visit the Malaysian pavilion. (Source: VNA)

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Minh Vu said this is a traditional event organized annually by the Embassies of ASEAN countries in Cambodia, aiming to strengthen solidarity and share ASEAN values.

According to the Vietnamese Ambassador, through art performances, fair and culinary booths, the event introduces the cultural diversity of ASEAN countries to Cambodian and international friends living and working in Phnom Penh. Through the fair, Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu expressed his hope that the spirit of solidarity and connection of ASEAN will spread not only within the community of member countries but also to international friends.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Minh Vu (right) with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn. (Source: VNA)

Participating in this fair, the Embassy of each ASEAN country brought two booths to introduce cultural products, typical cuisine, along with art performances imbued with the national cultural identity of each country. In a warm and friendly atmosphere, this is also an opportunity for the peoples of ASEAN to learn about and enjoy each other's culture and cuisine.

At the event, the Embassy and the Vietnamese community in Cambodia presented a number of art performances and two booths introducing Vietnamese goods and cuisine. Among them, the unique Vietnamese singing performance and the dance performance "Co Doi Thuong Ngan" became the highlight, leaving an impression in the eyes of ASEAN and international friends attending the event.

Within the framework of the program, booths introducing high-quality Vietnamese products also attracted many visitors, in addition to attractive Vietnamese dishes such as banh xeo, cha, nem...

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/hoi-cho-van-hoa-va-am-thuc-asean-2025-ton-vinh-su-da-dang-va-doan-ket-327555.html