The need to focus on people in efforts to boost ASEAN cooperation was in line with the global obligations of ASEAN as an international body, Jokowi explained.
Nay Pyi Taw (ANTARA News) - People of the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should benefit from the organization and the purpose of forming the cooperation, President Joko Widodo said before Southeast Asian leaders here.

"ASEAN should strengthen its commitment to protect the rights of the people of its member countries," Jokowi, as he is better known, stated in his speech at the plenary session of the 25th ASEAN Summit in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, on Wednesday.

According to him, Indonesia was interested in promoting and protecting the rights of migrant workers, encouraging the exchange of tourists and students, and stepping up cultural cooperation.

The need to focus on people in efforts to boost ASEAN cooperation was in line with the global obligations of ASEAN as an international body, Jokowi explained.

"Therefore, we must ensure a strategic environment in East Asia, which became the center of the worlds focus, and remained peaceful and stable. So it is conducive to share prosperity," the president remarked.

In addition, Jokowi also pointed out that ASEAN should participate in tackling global issues that threaten human beings, including infectious diseases, climate change, human trafficking and natural disasters.

As part of efforts to optimize all of ASEANs roles, Jokowi believes that the group needs to strengthen its capacity and unity and develop its credibility.

"Without the capacity, credibility and unity, ASEAN cannot maintain its international centrality," the president added.

This was the first time Jokowi delivered a speech at an ASEAN summit, which began on November 12 and will go on till November 13, since his inauguration as the Indonesian president on October 20.

Jokowi and his entourage arrived at Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday night to attend the ASEAN Summit, as well as the East Asia Summit that will be based on the theme "Moving Forward in Unity to a Peaceful and Prosperous Community."

The ASEAN gathering was attended by Brunei Darussalams Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, President Joko Widodo, Laos Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Myanmarese President U Thein Sein, President of the Philippines Benigno Aquino III, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thailands Prime Minister Prayut Chan O Cha, and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

After attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Beijing, China, Myanmar is the second country on President Jokowis agenda in a series of his first overseas working visits.

During this ASEAN gathering this year, there will also be forums held between the member states of ASEAN and Japan, China, India and Australia.

The 10 members of ASEAN are Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Vietnam.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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