ASEAN Leaders Praise Indonesia’s Chairmanship Amidst Difficult Global Situation
President Joko Widodo delivers speech at the Opening of 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Tuesday (09/05). (Photo by: Media Center of ASEAN Summit 2023/Zabur Karuru)
ASEAN leaders expressed appreciation for Indonesia’s chairmanship in ASEAN this year when attending the Plenary Session of the 43rd ASEAN Summit held at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Jakarta, Tuesday (09/05).
ASEAN leaders assessed that Indonesia’s chairmanship has produced many achievements despite the difficult global situation.
“All leaders appreciate Indonesia’s chairmanship for its many achievements even in difficult situations. Earlier, I conveyed the commitment of the leaders regarding issues of unity, centrality, efforts to maintain peace, stability. I saw that this commitment became even stronger at the meeting,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno LP Marsudi to the media at the venue.
According to Retno, in the plenary session, the leaders also emphasized the importance of cooperation for food security, energy, health, finance, support for the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), and support for advancing the digital economy through negotiations on the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA).
Moreover, the Minister also explained that the plenary meeting had produced eleven documents which were adopted by ASEAN leaders.
First, ASEAN Concord IV for the preparation of Vision 2045; Second, for “ASEAN Matters”, the leaders adopted a declaration regarding the ASEAN Human Rights Dialogue.
“This is something new which also becomes Indonesia’s achievement. Indonesia is committed to advancing the promotion and protection of human rights. Therefore, we want ASEAN human rights dialogue to be carried out regularly and this will be adopted by leaders,” Retno said.
Next is documents on disability-inclusive development and partnerships for the resilience of ASEAN communities, early childhood care and education, gender equality and family development, sustainable resilience, and climate change.
The meeting also adopted documents regarding the Epicentrum of Growth Declaration, food security and nutrition in response to crises, the Digital Economy Framework Agreement, and the ASEAN blue economy framework.
“This blue economy framework is also something new. So there is a recognition that the blue economy is a new source of sustainable development,” the Minister added.
In the maritime sector, Indonesia is also developing a maritime agenda, including agreed upon the ASEAN Maritime Outlook and making the ASEAN Maritime Forum and Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum annual meetings.
“Guidelines were also agreed upon to speed up CoC (code of conduct) negotiations in the South China Sea,” she remarked. (BPMI SETPRES/UN) (EST/MUR)
