Indonesia Passes ASEAN Chairmanship Baton to Laos
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo hands over the gavel of the chair to Prime Minister of Laos Sonexay Siphandone after his closing remarks at the 43rd ASEAN Summit 2023, in Jakarta, Thursday (09/07). (Photo by: Media Center of the 2023 ASEAN Summit/Zabur Karuru/foc).
During the closing ceremony of the 43rd ASEAN Summit, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Thursday (09/07) at the Jakarta Convention Center, Jakarta, officially handed over the baton of the ASEAN chairmanship to Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Sonexay Siphandone, marking the end of Indonesia’s ASEAN chairmanship.
“I officially close the 43rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits. I invite His Excellency Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, to continue the ASEAN chairmanship in 2024,” the President said.
According to the President, the three-day ASEAN Summit held from September 5-7, produced 90 documents and several concrete agreements with partner countries.
Throughout the series of meetings, he said, the leaders of ASEAN countries, partner countries, international organizations, and other delegations showed optimism and positive energy.
“Their responses strengthen hope and spirits to continuously make endeavors to build a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region,” he stated.
On that occasion, the President also expressed his appreciation to all leaders and guests in attendance at the 12 summits that constituted the 43rd ASEAN Summit series.
He also extended his gratitude to the leaders for their support for Indonesia’s chairmanship this year.
“Let’s continue to strengthen collaboration and cooperation for a peaceful and prosperous ASEAN, and make the world a better place for all,” he emphasized.
After the handover of ASEAN’s chairmanship, Indonesia will still continue to fulfill its responsibilities as the ASEAN Chair until the end of this year before officially passing the role to Laos next year.
In the series of meetings, President Jokowi chaired 12 sessions, including the 43rd ASEAN Summit in plenary and retreat formats, the 26th ASEAN-China Summit, the 24th ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit, the 26th ASEAN-Japan Summit, and the 11th ASEAN-United States Summit.
The President also chaired the ASEAN-Canada Summit, the 26th ASEAN Plus Three Summit, the 20th ASEAN-India Summit, the 3rd ASEAN-Australia Summit, the 18th East Asia Summit, and the 13th ASEAN-United Nations Summit.
Apart from that, the President attended as well several related agendas, including the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit and the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum (AIPF).
For the record, the 43rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits were also attended by several leaders of partner countries and international organizations, including Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, Premier of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Li Qiang, President of the Republic of Korea Yoon Suk Yeol, Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese, and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi.
Other leaders in attendance were Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape.
In this year’s ASEAN Summit, Indonesia also invited President of Bangladesh Mohammed Shahabuddin as Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Mark Brown as Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). Their attendance reflected Indonesia’s role as the Chair of ASEAN in promoting inclusive cooperation within the Indo-Pacific region. (FID/UN) (RIF/RAS/MMB)
