“Let us collaborate to make this meeting productive, meaningful, and impactful for the future of youth and sports in our region,” the Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Gunawan Suswantoro, stated on Sunday (May 3).
He also expressed his hope that all ministers and participants in attendance would actively provide input and views at the meeting.
"I encourage all delegates to participate actively, share perspectives openly, and contribute constructively throughout the discussions," he continued.
The 2026 Southeast Asia Ministerial Meeting on Youth and Sports is a high-level meeting between ministers in charge of youth and sports in Southeast Asia.
The event was initiated by Indonesia to strengthen strategic partnerships among Southeast Asian countries and key stakeholders, while also advancing youth collaboration and sports diplomacy across the region.
The meeting, themed “Strengthening SEA Youth Collaboration and Sports Diplomacy for a Resilient Future,” highlighted the importance of sports diplomacy and strengthened regional collaboration to address future challenges.
This included the role of the younger generation as leaders to determine the direction and development of Southeast Asia on the global stage.
The Indonesian delegation at the meeting included the Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Gunawan Suswantoro, Acting Deputy for Sports Industry Development Suyadi Pawiro, and Special Staff to the Minister of Youth and Sports for Legal and Regulatory Affairs Togi Pangaribuan.
They led discussions with senior officials from Southeast Asia’s youth and sports sectors on key regional priorities, particularly youth resilience, talent development pathways in sports, and global benchmarks and partnerships.
Furthermore, on Monday, Southeast Asian ministers in charge of youth and sports are scheduled to convene, with Indonesia’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Erick Thohir, set to attend.
As the initiator of cross-border collaboration, Thohir consistently emphasizes the crucial role of sports diplomacy as a foundation for maintaining harmony between nations.
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Translator: Michael Siahaan, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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