By Keerthana Reddy, Editor
This year’s opening ceremony was vastly different from SMUN’s previous editions but despite so many inherent differences, some things remained the same - the dialogue session at the start was as informative as always while Ms Valen Yo, our secretary-general’s, opening speech was what formally opened the conference. Moreover, today’s screening of an incredibly sentimental video made to chart the event’s progress throughout the years reminded everyone watching of how far the conference had come since its start.
Given his position as the Deputy-Director General of ASEAN Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), today’s Guest-of-Honour, Mr Harry Goh spoke about ASEAN’s move towards a new normal amidst COVID-19. He started by noting how, similar to this year’s edition of SMUN, many of the ASEAN meetings and discussions had also been shifted online because of COVID-19 and how the pandemic negatively affected communities and corporations all across the world. Still, he asserted the importance of face-to-face meetings for it allowed for better conversation and discussion, especially with regards to the discussion of sensitive and intricate topics. He also noted how despite the problems that the pandemic created and continues to create, ASEAN was slated to grow and reward its member states with time, economically and socially. Following his speech, Mr Goh engaged the delegates in a Q&A session moderated by the conference Secretary General, Ms Valen Yo. Delegates and chairs alike took the valuable opportunity to raise pertinent questions regarding Mr Goh’s opening speech, with queries spanning from the motives of negotiators of economic agreements and the South-China Sea dispute.
All in all, COVID-19 did take away the possibility of having a physical conference but it definitely did not take away the passion to understand an issue from multiple perspectives and to find lucrative and largely beneficial solutions to these issues while making your voices heard that as delegates, you possess. In an unprecedented time like this, your voices and opinions are more valuable than ever so keep raising those placards!