Diplomatic Network (Asia) hosted on Tuesday a networking lunch to celebrate the Chinese New Year, where diplomats and members of the business community welcomed the Year of the Dragon. 

As a customary celebration of Chinese culture, endorsed by the Singaporean community, DNA hosted a lunch attended by several of its members, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps. 

The event took place at Jiang-Nan Chun restaurant on the second floor of the Four Seasons Hotel Singapore, located on Orchard Boulevard, Singapore. 

Guests of honor

Left to right: EU Holidays’ Han; Four Seasons’ Christopher Menon; Rwandan High Commissioner Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye; Mexican embassy’s Steven Milon Esparza; Delegation of European Union Head of Mission Iwona Daria Piorko Bermig; DNA’s Rodrigo Chiari; European Chamber of Commerce in Singapore’s Nele Cornelis; Realtor Aaron Wan; Laotian Ambassador Sengkeo Pouangpadith; Performance Motors’ Christopher Chuang Li; Oaks Legal’s Soo Chye Lee; and South African Wine Cellar’s Misizwe Mtshali (behind).

The diplomatic guests of honor included Rwandan High Commissioner & Dean of African Group in Singapore His Excellency Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye; the head of the Delegation of the European Union mission, HE Iwona Daria Piorko Bermig; the ambassador of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, HE Sengkeo Pouangpadith; and Steven Milon Esparza, who is the second secretary of the Mexican diplomatic mission in Singapore. 

DNA members present were the European Chamber of Commerce in Singapore Executive Director Nele Cornelis; Oaks Legal Managing Director & Partner Soo Chye Lee; EU Holidays Director Han; Corporate, Performance Motors Direct & Sales Manager Christopher Chuang Li; Realtor Aaron Wan; South African Wine Cellar Director Misizwe Mtshali; and assistant sales manager of the Four Seasons hotel in Singapore, Christopher Menon.  

The honorable attendees were greeted on behalf of DNA by its Senior Editorial Advisor Rodrigo Chiari. During his welcome to the distinguished guests, Chiari, who has worked as a Panamanian ambassador, thanked everyone for their presence at the Chinese New Year lunch. 

Networking

Chiari referred to DNA’s accomplishments during its first year, as a specialized media-network platform for foreign diplomats stationed across the region. The senior advisor also announced the upcoming launch of DNA’s inaugural print edition next month. 

The diplomats used the opportunity to introduce themselves, sharing with DNA’s members their diplomatic tenure in Singapore and their respective countries. These diplomats all arrived in the country during or immediately after the pandemic. The foreign service officers praised Singapore’s handling of the situation under such surreal circumstances. 

DNA’s members had the chance to introduce their products and services. The event proved to be a good start for future business deals and relations between them and the diplomatic community.

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