Indonesia’s Chairmanship Successfully Made ASEAN Play a Role in the Progress of the Region and the World
The 43rd ASEAN Summit (Summit) was held in Jakarta with Indonesia as the host. This has become a belief for Indonesia which will automatically become Chair of ASEAN in 2023. As we know, previously this year Indonesia also held the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara.
On the occasion of the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia as Chair of ASEAN in 2023 is again expected to bring success in making ASEAN play a role in the progress of the Region and the World. For this reason, President Joko Widodo invited ASEAN to work together in navigating various challenges into opportunities.
Viewing challenges as opportunities for growth and learning, and making collaboration the key to overcoming rivalries, are principles that can help us achieve better solutions. Prioritizing inclusivity and unity are crucial steps in building a better and more peaceful world. By working together to understand differences and create an environment that values diversity, we can strengthen the foundations of global cooperation.
Continuing to adhere to these principles will enable ASEAN to address global challenges more effectively and create a better world for everyone. May this collaborative and inclusive spirit continue to guide action and policy at the regional and global levels.
President Joko Widodo underlined that there are several problems that are still being faced by ASEAN. This can include a variety of issues such as security, stability, trade, environmental issues, and other challenges that arise in the regional context. These issues require close coordination and cooperation between ASEAN member countries to find effective solutions.
The importance of unity and oneness in facing this challenge has been a basic principle of ASEAN since its inception. This concept is reflected in the spirit of the “ASEAN Way,” which prioritizes consensus, diplomacy and dialogue as the main tools in resolving conflicts and reaching agreements. Therefore, in the context of President Joko Widodo’s statement, the main message is the importance of ASEAN countries uniting in facing various problems and working together to achieve progress and stability in the region.
Apart from that, President Jokowi stated that the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) considers Southeast Asia to be one of the drivers of world economic growth. This is in line with Indonesia’s commitment as Chair of ASEAN to make ASEAN a center of world economic growth.
President Joko Widodo wants to make the ASEAN region the center of world economic growth, or what is known as the “epicenter of growth,” reflecting Indonesia’s determination to develop the economic potential of the Southeast Asian region. ASEAN is a region that has great potential in terms of economic growth, and member countries have worked together to strengthen their economic integration through various initiatives such as the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).
By making ASEAN the center of world economic growth, Indonesia is trying to increase the region’s competitiveness in the global market. These efforts include increasing investment, trade, innovation, and developing infrastructure that can support sustainable economic growth throughout the ASEAN region.
The President also emphasized making the Indo-Pacific region a theater of peace and inclusiveness. ASEAN has a significant role in promoting peace, stability and cooperation in the region. By building key foundations like these, ASEAN is contributing to efforts to maintain peace and promote sustainable development.
Inclusivity is an important aspect in creating a harmonious and peaceful environment. Ensuring that various parties in the Indo-Pacific region have the opportunity to participate in dialogue and cooperation is a positive step towards lasting peace.
Indonesia, as a member of ASEAN, has an important role in facilitating dialogue, cooperation and diplomacy to achieve this goal. By making ASEAN the “Epicentrum of Growth” and focusing on peace, inclusiveness and people’s welfare, ASEAN is helping to build a strong foundation for a better future in the region.
Through its chairmanship, Indonesia can be considered successful in strengthening ASEAN’s position as a stable and peaceful region and playing a central role in issues of peace and prosperity. Indonesia has also succeeded in consistently upholding international law, strengthening cooperation, and not making ASEAN a proxy for any power in the world. The big goal is to bring ASEAN into a region that is strong, inclusive, and has sustainable economic growth.
This great spirit deserves optimal appreciation and support from all citizens and governments of ASEAN member countries. With the increasingly conducive stability of member countries, ASEAN’s potential for prosperity will increasingly be realized easily. Investment flows from many countries, both within ASEAN and from outside the region, will continue to flow and revive the economy. The invested capital will grow the business world which will absorb many jobs thereby improving the welfare of the people in each ASEAN country.
The hope is that ASEAN’s prosperity will also be linear with the increasing contribution of the region’s economy to the global economy. Based on oec.world data, ASEAN’s contribution to global trade in 2021 is around US$1.73 trillion. This contribution comes from the value of export trade within the intra-ASEAN sphere which controls around 20 percent of the value of global export trade. This value is so large that trade between ASEAN member countries is very important to continue to maintain stability.
That way, Indonesia’s chairmanship succeeded in making ASEAN play a role in the progress of the region and the world. It only remains for ASEAN to unite to be able to maintain it all so that ASEAN becomes a cooperation that is always respected by the international community.
