TEHRAN (CHN) – A tourism and cultural exhibition will be held in Tehran University from 8 to 10 of May 2006. This exhibition will be held by the Center for Graduate International Studies of Tehran University with the cooperation of Henelito Sevilla, head of Iran-Philippines Friendship Association, and Greg Watson, a political science student in Tehran University from New Zealand.

Some ASEAN member states including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Philippines, and Vietnam together with the New Zealand will have pavilions in this exhibition.

Meanwhile, some seminars with introductory overviews of the ASEAN countries and also New Zealand will be held with diplomatic representation.

The main aim of holding this exhibition is to give a greater understanding on ASEAN countries, their cultures, potentials and opportunities. Some DVDs will be available in the exhibition for the visitors, introducing the tourism and cultural attractions of the participant countries.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a political, economical, and cultural organization of countries located in Southeast Asia. ASEAN was formed on August 8, 1967 by Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines, as a non-provocative display of solidarity against communist expansion in Vietnam and insurgency within their own borders.

Later Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia joined ASEAN. The countries meet annually and hold some formal and informal summits every year.