Let us work hand in hand to realize equal and mutually beneficial cooperation to sail together toward an epicentrum of growth
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) affirmed that no parties should make the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) an arena of destructive rivalries.

"We should place the ASEAN 'boat' as a place to foster cooperation in the hopes of realizing prosperity, stability, and peace, not only for the region but also for the world as a whole," the president remarked during the opening session of the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The Indonesian head of state underscored that ASEAN leaders had agreed to not let any parties take advantage of the Southeast Asian region as their proxy field for their struggles for power and influence.

"The world's oceans are too vast to be sailed alone. In our (ASEAN) journey, we will encounter the 'boats' of ASEAN partners. Let us work hand in hand to realize equal and mutually beneficial cooperation to sail together toward an epicentrum of growth," he stated.

Indonesia is hosting the 43rd ASEAN Summit as the 2023 chair of the bloc while carrying the chairmanship theme of "ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth." This year is the fifth time Indonesia holds the chairmanship following the 1976, 1996, 2003, and 2011 terms.

In 2023, Indonesia is making utmost efforts to retain ASEAN's position as the center of economic, political, and socio-cultural growth while preserving the bloc's relevance as a global actor capable of facing future challenges and promoting stability and peace in the Southeast Asian region.

Heads of state and government of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Vietnam are taking part in the summit, which is the successor of the 42nd ASEAN Summit held in May 2023 in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara Province.

Thailand is delegating its Foreign Affairs Ministry's Secretary-General, Sarun Charoensuwan, to the summit, since Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and his cabinet will only be sworn in on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste Xanana Gusmao is joining the 43rd summit in the capacity of an observer.

Furthermore, the ASEAN chair also invited Bangladesh, as the chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and Cook Islands, as the chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).

Regarding Myanmar, the ASEAN has not allowed any political envoys of the country to attend the summit, as an effort to push the Burmese military junta to solve the ongoing domestic crisis following its coup against the elected government.

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Translator: Yashint Difa, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Sri Haryati
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