ASEAN Summit: Prabowo urges ASEAN to become a zone of peace

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto called on all member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to make the Southeast Asian region a zone of peace.

In the plenary session of the 48th ASEAN Summit, Prabowo emphasized that ASEAN must serve as a stable anchor amidst escalating global geopolitical dynamics, through cooperation between countries and solidarity as fellow ASEAN members.

"We must give the example, we must be really committed to have solid ASEAN and ASEAN that maintains peace, maintains stability, that values dialogue and collaboration," he spoke during a panel session of the 48th ASEAN Summit at Mactan Expo, Cebu, Philippines, on Friday.

He then urged all ASEAN member countries to strengthen a culture of peace and enhance cooperation among countries in the region. He said ASEAN must serve as an example of a stable, harmonious region that upholds world peace.

"At a time of deepening divides, ASEAN's culture of peace must not only be preserved, but we must advance it to be a global example. ASEAN must continue to lead, shape its environment, secure its future. We must truly be the zone of peace," the head of state continued.

President Prabowo then emphasized that geopolitical rivalries will only negatively impact society and hinder development in the region.

Therefore, ASEAN must continue to prioritize dialogue and cooperation as the primary foundation of international relations.

"We must not allow rivalries. We must not allow our past to determine our present and our future. Indonesia is determined to forge a policy of good neighborliness," he continued.

The panel session was opened by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., followed by a deliberation session, where each country's leader delivered a statement regarding the current situation in ASEAN and future projections.

President Prabowo expressed his views in the panel session along with the leaders of other member countries, namely Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, King of Brunei Darussalam Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.

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