ASEAN Leaders to Discuss Myanmar Crisis in Jakarta

Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Hassanal Bolkiah, who is also the Chair of ASEAN for 2021, arrives in Indonesia, on Saturday (24/4). (Photo by: Presidential Secretariat/Kris)

Leaders of ASEAN countries are slated to discuss Myanmar crisis in the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting (ALM), to be held on Saturday (24/4), at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta.

“Leaders of ASEAN countries including President of the Republic of Indonesia had received official invitation to the meeting from Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah as the ASEAN chair. The President affirmed that the meeting is held for the sake of the people of Myanmar,” Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi said on Friday (23/4).

A number of leaders along with the delegates arrived in Indonesia one day prior to the meeting, among others Prime Minister of Vietnam Phạm Minh Chính and his entourage, Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Hassanal Bolkiah accompanied by his son, Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei, and Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Sen.

For the record, Prime Minister of Vietnam Phạm Minh Chính had a bilateral meeting with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, at Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, later in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, five ASEAN leaders have arrived in Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, among others, Prime Minister of Malaysia Muhyiddin Yassin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Laos Saleumxay Kommasith, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Don Pramudwinai, Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong, and Myanmar’s Military Leader Min Aung Hlaing.

Upon arriving at the airport, the ASEAN leaders and delegates must undergo a PCR swab test and other health screening tests as the implementation of health protocols in Indonesia.

The ALM is the first in-person meeting of ASEAN leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting reflects mutual concern of the leaders on Myanmar crisis and serves as a discussion forum to end the crisis.

“Commitment of the leaders to be physically present in the meeting reflects their deep concern on the situation in Myanmar and also proves ASEAN’s determination to help end the crisis in Myanmar,” she said.

The meeting, she added, will be held by strictly adhering to the health protocols. (PRESIDENTIAL SECRETARIAT /UN) (RAS/MMB)