President Prabowo: ASEAN Centrality is Key to Regional Stability

President Prabowo Subianto attends retreat session of the 47th ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), Malaysia, on Sunday (10/26). (Photo by: Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of Presidential Secretariat)

President Prabowo Subianto attended retreat session of the 47th ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), Malaysia, on Sunday (10/26). The Head of State firmly asserted that ASEAN unity and centrality are main foundation in maintaining regional stability and self-sufficiency.

“The world is currently divided into parts. Competition is getting fiercer. Trust is eroded. The world order is losing its balance. In this situation, ASEAN must stay united. Unity and centrality are not just a key word. Without unity and centrality, we are at risk of being divided by super powers,” the President said.

ASEAN’s strength, according to President Prabowo, is not on confrontation, but it is on its ability to build a constructive and inclusive involvement continuously. According to the President, with such approach, ASEAN has succeeded in overcoming various challenges in the past.

“It is the ASEAN way, managed with dialogues, patience, and respect. With this approach, we have overcome challenges in the past and with the same spirit we must continue to move forward,” he added.

In the context of maritime security, President Prabowo also highlighted the importance of ASEAN’s collective voice to uphold the principle of international maritime law. “We must continue to speak out collectively to uphold UNCLOS 1982 and to reach an effective and substantive early resolution of the code of ethics.

Concluding his remarks, President Prabowo called on all ASEAN member countries to strengthen solidarity in facing many challenges. The Head of State also firmly stated that the unity of ASEAN is not merely a slogan, but the path to a peaceful and prosperous future.

“If we are divided, we will lose our credibility. If we are united, we cannot be ignored. Indonesia is ready to take this path together for the sake of peace, prosperity, and our peoples,” he remarked. (Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of Presidential Secretariat) (AW/MMB)