The Philippines, led by Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr., actively participated in the recently concluded 20th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology, and Innovation (AMMSTI-20), 85th ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology, and Innovation (COSTI-85), and related meetings held from 03-07 June 2024 in Siem Reap, Cambodia
Photo courtesy of ASEAN
Hosted by the Minister of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation (MISTI) of the Kingdom of Cambodia, under the leadership of Minister HEM Vanndy, the event gathered Ministers and Vice Ministers, and representatives from all ASEAN Member States including Timor Leste as an observer to all meetings. The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, as well as the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, graced the opening ceremony, underscoring the strong commitment of Cambodia and ASEAN to science, technology, and innovation (STI) in the region.
The meetings provided a platform for ASEAN member states to discuss and exchange views on strategies for advancing science, technology, and innovation within the region and with dialogue partners. The Philippines, through DOST, highlighted its commitment to leveraging human-centered AI innovations for sustainable development.
During the meetings, the Philippines showcased its collaborative projects within ASEAN, including the ongoing Scholarship Offerings for ASEAN CLM (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar) Researchers. These initiatives aimed at fostering a self-reliant and resilient ASEAN community by harnessing the power of science and technology to address regional challenges.
"We are committed to working together with our ASEAN counterparts to explore the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation for the benefit of our region and beyond," said Secretary Solidum.
In addition to the main meetings, several other meetings were held throughout the week, including the 16th Board of Advisers to COSTI (BAC-16) Meeting, 60th Meeting of Subcommittee on S&T Infrastructure and Resource Development (SCIRD-60), the 13th Meeting of ASEAN-Japan Cooperation Committee on S&T (AJCCST-13), and the 6th Meeting of the ASEAN-ROK Joint Science, Technology and Innovation Committee (AKJSTIC-6).
The Philippines was represented by a delegation from DOST, including Undersecretary for Research and Development Dr. Leah Buendia, Undersecretary for Scientific and Technical Services Ms. Maridon O. Sahagun, and representatives from the DOST International Technology Cooperation Unit.
Ministerial Meetings are held annually, while COSTI Meetings are held twice a year. The next COSTI meetings (COSTI-86 and related meetings) will be held in Singapore in October 2024, while the next AMMSTI is scheduled to take place in June 2025.
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