President Jokowi to Chair 12 Meetings during 43rd ASEAN Summit

President Jokowi and leaders of ASEAN countries pose for a photo session, Thursday (05/11), in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara province. (Photo by: ASEAN2023 Host Photographer)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is slated to chair 12 meetings during the 43^rd ASEAN Summit to be held in Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), on September 5-7, 2023.

The series of the 43^rd ASEAN Summit will be held in plenary and retreat formats, including the 26^th ASEAN-China Summit, the 24^th ASEAN-the Republic of Korea (ROK) Summit, the 26^th ASEAN-Japan Summit, the 11^th ASEAN-U.S. Summit, the ASEAN-Canada Summit, the 26^th ASEAN Plus Three Summit, the 20^th ASEAN-India Summit, the 3^rd ASEAN-Australia Summit, the 18^th East Asia Summit, and 13^th ASEAN-the United Nations Summit.

“The President will also lead non-plenary meetings such as the opening ceremony of the 43^rd ASEAN Summit, the opening of ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum: Implementation of the AOIP, gala dinner, social events to be held on the 7^th [of September], and closing ceremony and handover ceremony of Indonesia’s chairmanship of the ASEAN to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Director General of ASEAN Cooperation Sidharto R. Suryodipuro said.

He went on to say that the 43^rd ASEAN Summit will commence on September 5, 2023. The next day, ASEAN will hold summits with some partner countries. Meanwhile, East Asia Summit and ASEAN Plus Three Summit will be held on September 7, 2023.

A number of bilateral meetings between ASEAN leaders will also be held on the sidelines of the 43^rd ASEAN Summit. President Jokowi is scheduled to deliver a press statement on September 7, 2023 to conclude the event.

Sidharto added that around 27 world leaders and heads of international organizations will attend the Summit, including the East Asia Summit member countries, Pacific Island Forum (PIF) member countries, Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) member countries, and Executive Directors of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

In line with the theme of Indonesia’s Chairmanship, “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth”, the series of ASEAN Summit is expected to promote the achievement and foundation of ASEAN Vision 2045 as well as strengthen ASEAN’s institutional capacity in terms of more effective and efficient decision-making process and organizational matters.

“This will be our fourth time assuming ASEAN Chairmanship. We want to lay a foundation for future ASEAN strategic cooperation. To achieve our objectives, Indonesia will strengthen ASEAN’s institutional capacity and its work mechanism, including efforts to develop ASEAN resources,” he concluded. (UN) (RAS/MMB)