"ASEAN also needs long-term tactical strategies that are relevant and in line with the expectations of communities," he remarked while opening the plenary session of the 43rd ASEAN Summit at the Jakarta Convention Center, Senayan, on Tuesday.
The 43rd ASEAN Summit is being held on September 5-7 under Indonesia's chairmanship in ASEAN this year. With "ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth" as its chairmanship theme, Indonesia is striving to ensure the bloc's position as a center of economic, political, and socio-cultural growth.
By retaining ASEAN's position as a center of growth, Indonesia expects that the bloc will continue to be a relevant actor not only to the communities in Southeast Asia but also in the surrounding regions.
In his opening speech, President Jokowi described ASEAN as an "ark" that is responsible for the well-being of its population of hundreds of millions.
Hence, he urged all ASEAN leaders to ensure that the ark is capable of persistently navigating the oceans amid emerging "storms" or challenges.
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The Indonesian head of state then highlighted that ASEAN countries are currently negotiating to draft the ASEAN Concord IV to formulate the bloc's strategies for the next two decades to realize the 2045 ASEAN Vision of making Southeast Asia a resilient, innovative, dynamic, and people-centric region.
The summit is drawing participation from delegates representing 22 countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Russia as partner countries of ASEAN.
Thailand, the United States, and Russia are not delegating their heads of state and government to the summit.
At the summit, the delegation of Thailand is led by its Foreign Affairs Ministry's Secretary-General Sarun Charoensuwan. Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris will lead the US delegation, while the Russian Federation will be represented by its Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Meanwhile, the heads of government of Japan, China, Australia, and Canada have confirmed their participation at the summit. Moreover, President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol will attend the event.
In addition, representatives from the United Nations, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund will partake in the summit that succeeds the 42nd ASEAN Summit hosted by Indonesia earlier in May.
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Translator: Shofi Ayudiana, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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