The president arrived at the meeting venue at 1:12 p.m. local time. He was greeted by ASEAN Secretary General Dato Lim Jock Hoi.
After posing for group photos and signing the guest book, President Jokowi, along with other ASEAN leaders and representatives, headed to the meeting room at Bali Lounge at the ASEAN Secretariat to partake in the ALM.
The ALM this time comprises three segments: development of the ASEAN community, ASEAN external relations, and regional and international issues.
In the first and second segments, President Jokowi will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Director General of ASEAN Cooperation at the Foreign Ministry Sidharto R. Suryodipuro, while the foreign minister will join him in the third segment.
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Several ASEAN leaders have attended the ALM at the invitation of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam, as the chair of ASEAN.
The ALM is the outcome of Indonesia's initiative to resolve the political crisis in Myanmar. The ALM is also a follow-up to the talks between the president of the Republic of Indonesia and the sultan of Brunei Darussalam, as the ASEAN chair.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marsudi had earlier stated that the ALM was the first meeting of ASEAN leaders during a pandemic.
Marsudi noted that the leaders’ commitment to meet physically mirrored ASEAN's deep concern over the situation in Myanmar and became the bloc’s focus to help Myanmar find a way out of the crisis.
"We certainly hope that the ALM (held on Saturday, April 24) would reach an agreement on good steps for the people of Myanmar," Marsudi stated.
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Translator: Hanni Sofia/Suharto
Editor: Sri Haryati
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