Jakarta – The 43rd Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta on 5–7 September 2023 is aimed at strengthening strategic cooperation with member countries and the Indo-Pacific region.
For this reason, Indonesia as the holder of the 2023 ASEAN Chair presided over 12 meetings at the 43 ASEAN Summit which was held at the Jakarta Convention Center.
This was conveyed by the Director General of ASEAN Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Sidharto R Suryodipuro,
“The 43rd Summit also invited the IMF and World Bank and several other world organizations,” explained Director General Sidharto.
The series of Summits also became the venue for various bilateral meetings among the country leaders who attended.
“But the point is that the goals to be expected are to strengthen the achievement and foundation of the ASEAN 2045 vision. Apart from that, strengthening ASEAN institutions both in terms of making decisions that are more effective and efficient, to matters of organizational substance,” said Sidharto.
At this time’s ASEAN Chair, Indonesia is indeed focused on laying the foundation for cooperation between ASEAN countries that are strategic in the future. To achieve this, Indonesia will oversee and ensure strong and sturdy ASEAN institutions with various working mechanisms. Including, how to strengthen ASEAN resources.
“Next is how to determine the regional agenda in the future, be it trade, investment, digitalization, the blue economy as a new source of growth. And of course the role of the Indo-Pacific outlook. “How do we manifest all this in the context of economics and development,” added the Director General of ASEAN Cooperation, Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sidharto Suryodipuro.
There are several aspects that need to be strengthened, such as increasing the human resources of the ASEAN community, dialogues on human rights and maritime cooperation between member countries.
According to Sidharto, Indonesia always produces an agreement or what is usually called ASEAN Concord at every chairmanship in ASEAN. Indonesia has previously served as chairman in 1976, 2003 and 2011
Previously, the Director General of Information and Public Communication of the Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Dirjen IKP Kemenkominfo) Usman Kansong said, apart from important issues for developing countries in ASEAN, the 43rd ASEAN Summit also discussed follow-up issues related to wider cooperation with other countries. -countries outside the region.
“Including the Code of Conduct regarding the South China Sea, then also the South East Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone or SEANFWZ, then also the ASEAN Maritime Outlook, ASEAN Outlook in Indo Pacific or (AOIP) and of course issues related to Myanmar,” said Usman.
To note, the 2023 ASEAN Summit in Jakarta was not only attended by the leaders of member countries, but also partner countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, the United States, Australia and India.
