President Prabowo Subianto Reaffirms ASEAN Centrality, Supports Timor Leste and PNG Membership
Minister of Foreign Affairs conveyed his statement to the press after accompanying the President to attend a gala dinner at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center (KLCC), Malaysia on Monday (5/26). (Photo by: BPMI of the Presidential Secretariat)
President Prabowo Subianto underscored the importance of maintaining ASEAN centrality and cohesiveness in facing geopolitical dynamics during the plenary session and retreat of the 46th ASEAN Summit on Monday (5/26), according to Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono.
“Today’s plenary session addressed the theme of “Building the ASEAN Community”, including discussions on ASEAN’s current position; how ASEAN views geopolitical dynamics; and how to deal with these dynamics,” the Minister said after accompanying the President to attend the gala dinner at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center (KLCC) in Malaysia.
According to Sugiono, leaders of ASEAN member countries at the plenary session agreed to maintain the centrality of ASEAN.
He added that ASEAN is also expected to be a dynamic and adaptable forum while still considering its member countries’ interests.
“The plenary session also discussed the need for ASEAN countries to enhance cohesiveness and solidarity so that ASEAN can become a regional force to be reckoned with,” he added.
ASEAN is also expected to become a force that can benefit the ASEAN community. With ASEAN’s current potential and population, Sugiono expressed belief that ASEAN has a great power.
“We also have various commodities for intra-regional trade, and this is an economic power of its own since the numbers are greater than other regions in the world,” he said.
The Minister added that during the forum, President Prabowo Subianto also expressed his support for the acceleration of Timor Leste’s full membership in ASEAN.
Politically, Sugiono added, member countries have agreed to accept Timor Leste as part of ASEAN.
“We hope that at the 47th ASEAN Summit, Timor Leste will already become a permanent, full member of ASEAN,” the Minister added.
Not only Timor Leste, the President also proposed and supported Papua New Guinea’s membership in ASEAN since it has long proposed itself as an ASEAN member.
“Papua New Guinea has applied for ASEAN membership since 2018, if I am not mistaken, and President Prabowo Subianto fully supports this,” he concluded. (BPMI Setpres) (TCUD/EP)
