The vice president said during the past years ASEAN had been pictured only as a forum for the elite and government officials in Southeast Asia.
"Indonesia will try to change the old image by holding more people-centered programs," Boediono said in his opening speech at the 2011 ASEAN Civil Society Conference and ASEAN People`s Forum (ACSC/APF) which is being held May 3-5 at the Ciputra Hotel, Jakarta.
The vice president said it was important for the people to have a sense of belonging towards ASEAN. Boediono praised the increasing partnership between ASEAN`s civil society and government officials in recent years. He said he hoped to see more collaboration between the two parties in the future.
He said a special mechanism to establish more contacts between people and government in ASEAN was being devised.
In relation to the ACSC and APF event in Jakarta, Boediono asked the forum to focus their discussions on common concern themes such as reducing poverty, increasing health services and achieving the MDGs.
The 2011 ACSC/APF is an annual meeting held alongside every ASEAN Summit. It is a forum that gathers common people and government officials to have a dialogue. The event is also meant to increase the awareness of people in the region about the mechanism and activities conducted by ASEAN as an organization.
The forum is expected to strengthen partnerships among people and government officials in ASEAN, deliver people`s recommendations to the leaders of ASEAN while also building solidarity and cooperation among nations in Southeast Asia.
This year`s ACSC/APF meeting in Jakarta is participated in by 1,330 people coming from ASEAN countries, Timor Leste, China, Japan, South Korea, Sweden and the Netherlands. (*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
