"People`s support for the implementation of ASEAN connectivity is vital. Therefore, apart from meetings between government officials in the next ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, we have also arranged meetings between ASEAN youth figures, parliamentary and civil society members," the foreign ministry`s director general for ASEAN cooperation, Djauhari Oratmangun, said on Saturday.
Djauhari also said the organizing committee of the ASEAN Summit in Jakarta had arranged other activities such as an ASEAN youth camp, ASEAN rock festival and ASEAN jewelry exhibition.
Other topics to be brought up at the summit were efforts to tackle climate change and post-natural disaster and efforts to maintain the stability and security in the region and other international issues.
Asked if the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia would also be discussed in the summit, Djauhari said it was possible.
During the implementation of the 18th ASEAN Summit, Indonesia will organize around 200 activities in around 16 provinces. The activities will include ASEAN ministerial meetings and peak with the Summit of the 10 leaders of the ASEAN member nations on May 7-8.
Besides, an ASEAN Jazz Festival, ASEAN Culinary Festival and ASEAN Journalist Meeting will also be held, according to the informatics and communication ministry`s director general, Freddy H. Tulung.
The ASEAN Summit will be supported by various stakeholders such as hotels, restaurants, aviation industry, transportation service providers and handicraft industries.
"All parties must be involved, including the public. Therefore, the media is to play a very important role to inform the public about the existence of the ASEAN Community," the official said.
The 18th ASEAN Summit will be preceded by an ASEAN-EU Business Summit and AEM-EU Trade Commissioners Meeting on May 5, and APSC Council, AEC Council, ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM) and 8th Meeting of ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) on May 6.
During the next Summit, several other meetings will also be held, including ASEAN Leaders Meeting with APA (ASEAN People`s Assembly) Representatives, ASEAN Leaders Informal Meeting with Youth Representatives and Leaders Informal Meeting with CSO`s Representatives and BIMP-EAGA Summit.
Organized annually, ASEAN Summit usually discusses among other things economic and cultural development of Southeast Asian countries. ASEAN has so far conducted 17 ASEAN Summits in every member country. The first ASEAN summit was held in February 1976 in Bali. (*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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