President Jokowi, PM Albanese Meet at ASEAN-Australia Summit
President Jokowi has a conversation with PM of Australia Anthony Albanese before the 3rd ASEAN-Australia Summit at Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Jakarta, Thursday (09/07). (Photo by: The 2023 ASEAN Summit Media Centre/Dwi Prasetya/aww)
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo expressed hope that Australia will become a bridge for enhancing ASEAN’s relations with the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).
“I hope that Australia can become a bridge for enhancing collaboration between ASEAN and the PIF,” the President said during the bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese amidst the 43rd ASEAN Summit on Thursday (09/07) at Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Jakarta.
President Jokowi expressed hope that Australia will support the principle of sovereignty at the PIF Summit in November 2023. The President also extended his appreciation for Australia’s support during the previous Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Summit in Port Vila, Vanuatu on August 23-24, 2023.
“I express my gratitude to Australia for the support toward the principal of sovereignty throughout last month’s MSG Summit. We will continue to look forward to Australia’s support at the next Melanesian Summit in November,” the President stated.
The President further said that Australia can be the driving force to ensure PIF to remain focused on strengthening regional cooperation, especially with ASEAN.
In the meantime, PM Albanese applauded Indonesia’s success in organizing the ASEAN Summit. He affirmed that Australia respects the great importance of the Southeast Asian region, particularly Indonesia, reflected by the release of “Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040” at the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum (AIPF).
“The fact that we decided to launch this program in Jakarta is a proof that we consider the ASEAN region, and Indonesia in particular, has a central role,” PM Albanese stated. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/UN) (SI/RI)
