Labuan Bajo – President Joko Widodo opened the ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo. A number of ministers were seen accompanying the President in the meeting which was attended by ASEAN country leaders and invited guests at the ASEAN Summit.
“I hereby declare that the 42nd Asean Summit is officially opened,” he said at the Meruorah Hotel, Labuan Bajo Wednesday (10/5/2023).
When opening the meeting, the President greeted and gave a warm welcome to the ASEAN members present including Timor Leste. All representatives of ASEAN countries were present except for representatives from Thailand due to elections in their country.
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) spoke about global dynamics which, according to him, are becoming increasingly unpredictable at this time. He then invited ASEAN countries not to remain silent in facing these global challenges.
“ASEAN leaders that I respect, at this time the global economy has not fully recovered, rivalries are getting sharper, world dynamics are increasingly unpredictable, and the question is whether ASEAN will only be a bystander, whether ASEAN will just be silent, and whether ASEAN is able to become a motor of peace and growth,” Jokowi said.
Jokowi believes that ASEAN is capable of facing various global obstacles with the unity established at this ASEAN Summit.
“I’m sure we all believe ASEAN can, as long as one key is unity, with unity ASEAN will be able to become a central player in bringing peace and growth,” he said.
“We have strong assets as the epicenter of growth, an economy that grows far above the world average, a demographic bonus and regional stability that is maintained,” he added.
In closing, the President asked ASEAN member countries to work together, take responsibility, and show leadership spirit which is the theme of this year’s ASEAN Summit ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth.
“So that in the future ASEAN must further strengthen its economic integration, strengthen inclusive cooperation including the implementation of assets and strengthen the architecture of food health, energy and financial stability, let’s work hard to make ASEAN matters the epicentrum of growth and I hereby declare the 42nd ASEAN Summit opened. Jokowi continued.
It is known that apart from the opening of the ASEAN Summit which was held on 10 May 2023, there were many meetings at both Leaders and Ministerial levels.
On May 9, there were three other meetings namely, the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) which discussed the development of the ASEAN community, follow-up review of the Leaders’ agreement regarding the implementation of the five point consensus (5PC), and cooperation with partners.
Furthermore, the 25th ASEAN Political Security Community (APSC) Meeting related to the pillars of political security specifically for Indonesia, will be co-chaired by the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD and Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno, while for other ASEAN the participant is the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
And, the 33rd ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) meeting discussed strengthening ASEAN capacity, the Timor-Leste road map and others.
