Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Opening of the Plenary Session of the 43rd ASEAN Summit, Jakarta Convention Center, DKI Jakarta Province, September 5, 2023

Your Majesty,

Your Excellencies ASEAN Leaders,

Welcome to the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta.

I would like to welcome His Excellency Hun Manet, the Prime Minister of Cambodia, and His Excellency Xanana Gusmao, the Prime Minister of Timor Leste, welcome Your Excellency, to join in the big ASEAN family,

Distinguished ASEAN Leaders,

We are all aware of the magnitude of the current world’s challenges, where the master key to confront them is the ASEAN’s unity and centrality. The direction of ASEAN is clearly to become the epicentrum of growth. ASEAN has a lot of asset to accomplish this, but ASEAN must be able to work harder, be more unified, be braver and be more agile. Apart from that, ASEAN also needs a long-term tactical strategy that is relevant and in accordance with the expectations of the people, not only for the next five years ahead but for the next 20 years until 2045. And, I appreciate the support of ASEAN member countries in discussing ASEAN Concord IV.

Your Excellencies,

ASEAN as part of the Indo-Pacific region also continues to consistently work hard, both using an inclusive approach through the cooperation of the ASEAN Secretariat with the Secretariat of the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), as well as an economic and development approach through the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum (AIPF) so that ASEAN can have an impact on its people and also on the world.

ASEAN as a big ship also bears a big responsibility to the hundreds of millions of people who sail together on it. And, even though we have to sail in the midst of a storm, we as ASEAN leaders must make sure that this ship is able to continue moving and to keep voyaging. And, we must be the captains of our own ships to materialize peace, stability, and shared prosperity.

And, I hereby officially declare the 43rd ASEAN Summit Plenary Session open.

(RY/MUR)