Closing of the ASEAN Summit, Indonesia’s Chairmanship Succeeds in Making ASEAN Contribute to the Progress of the Region and the World
Labuan Bajo – ASEAN leaders agreed on a number of agreements at the 2023 ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara. One of the agreements is that ASEAN must be able to contribute to the progress of the region and the world.
This was conveyed by President Joko Widodo at the closing ceremony of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, Thursday 11/5/2023.
At the 42nd ASEAN Summit, ASEAN leaders also agreed on the important role of the ASEAN economy to be able to support the world economy which is currently experiencing turmoil which has a major influence on a number of countries.
“ASEAN has an important role in the world economy, where the ASEAN economy can become one of the anchors and support the regional and world economies,” said President Jokowi.
Then, ASEAN leaders also agreed to develop a safe, efficient and sustainable electric vehicle ecosystem in the region, by making a joint declaration in the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Developing Regional Electric Vehicle Ecosystems.
The development of the electric vehicle ecosystem is important in order to create safe, efficient and sustainable electric vehicles in the region, said President Jokowi.
The declaration is a guide for developing an electric vehicle ecosystem that meets standards, has the same standards in ASEAN. Electric vehicles will also be safe, efficient and also primary energy based on green energy, he concluded.
Then, ASEAN leaders also agreed to strengthen financial stability and increase regional economic integration.
At the 42nd ASEAN Summit, ASEAN leaders agreed by declaring the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Advancing Regional Payment Connectivity and Local Currency Transaction Mechanism. The declaration was to support strengthening financial stability and increasing regional economic integration, added President Jokowi.
Later there will be a roadmap related to regional payment connectivity after the pilot plan is formed. For example, Thailand could adopt Indonesia’s QRIS. So that people can directly conduct transactions without the need to exchange currency.
It should be noted that Bank Indonesia has collaborated with 6 Thai banks. Among them, Bangkok Bank, Bank Ayudhya, CIMB Thai, Kasikorn Bank, Krungthai Bank and Siam Commercial Bank. So that the bank can scan QRIS for Indonesian merchants.
Meanwhile, ASEAN leaders also agreed on intense cooperation in eradicating human trafficking, so that cases of human trafficking in the ASEAN region can be minimized.
The importance of cooperation between ASEAN countries to be able to eradicate human trafficking practices in the region. ASEAN must be able to have a joint commitment to eradicating human trafficking in the region so that it does not become more rampant and can reduce cases which are increasingly concerning, the crime of human trafficking must be completely eradicated from upstream to downstream, said Jokowi.
