Ambassador Virginia H. Benavidez (5 from R) with (from L to R) H.E. Nguyen Viet Dung, Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, H.E. Yungkyu Park, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Noppadon Theppitak, Ambassador of Thailand, H.E. Zehra Akbari, High Commissioner of Pakistan, Mr. Paul Sinclair, H.E. Peter Chan, High Commissioner of Singapore, H.E. Ravi Thapar, High Commissioner of the Republic of India, H.E. Dato’ Lim Kim Eng, High Commissioner of Malaysia, and H.E. Yasuaki Nogawa , Ambassador of Japan during the Asia 11 Group Luncheon held at “Ang Bahay” on 22 October 2014.

As part of the Philippine Embassy’s engagement with the Asia 11 Group of Heads of Diplomatic Mission, Ambassador Virginia H. Benavidez hosted a luncheon for the Ambassador of Thailand and Dean of the Asia 11 group, H.E. Noppaddon Theppitak, Ambassador of Korea, H.E. Yongkyu Park, Singapore High Commissioner H.E. Peter Chan, Ambassador of Japan, H.E. Yasuaki Nogawa, High Commissioner of Pakistan, H.E. Zehra Akbari, High Commissioner of India, H.E. Ravi Thapar, Ambassador of Viet Nam, H.E. Nguyen Viet Dung, High Commissioner of Malaysia, H.E. Dato’ Lim Kim Eng and Mr. Paul Sinclair, Regional Security Fellow, Centre for Strategic Studies, Victoria University of Wellington as the guest speaker at the “Ang Bahay” (Philippine Ambassador’s residence) on 29 October 2014.

The Asia 11 Group, set up in 2011, is composed of Heads of Mission of the six ASEAN countries, namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam, Japan, China, Korea, India and Pakistan who meet regularly once a month over lunch or dinner hosted on a rotational basis. The host can invite a guest speaker to interact with the Heads of Mission and take up matters of mutual interest.

Ambassador Benavidez invited Mr. Paul Sinclair, who shared his insights and analysis on regional security in the Asia Pacific region and New Zealand's priorities and outlook on regional and global security and related matters.The interactive luncheon focused on a range of issues relating to developments in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and other parts of the world. This elicited active interest and several positive feedback from the Ambassadors and High Commissioners of the Asia 11 Group.

It was a productive and meaningful luncheon meeting which served as a valuable opportunity to foster camaraderie and goodwill among the Asia 11 Group members, a useful forum for interacting with various invited speakers on a broad range of subjects and a worthwhile event for exchange of views, ideas and comments and discussion of topics in a relaxed and welcoming setting.