LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia, May 10 (NNN-ANTARA) – The 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, officially kicked off, in the town of Labuan Bajo in eastern Indonesia, today, with Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, urging ASEAN unity and economic integration for the regional bloc, to play a central role in regional peace and development.
“With unity, ASEAN will be able to be a central player in bringing peace and development,” he noted.
“In future, ASEAN must strengthen its economic integration, strengthen inclusive cooperation, including the implementation of RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership), and strengthen health, food, and energy architecture, as well as, maintain financial stability,” he said.
The summit is expected to produce a roadmap for Timor-Leste’s full membership. Last Nov, ASEAN agreed in principle to admit Timor-Leste to be its 11th member. Timor-Leste’s Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, was present at the Summit and delivered a speech, following President Widodo’s opening address, stressing a mutual recognition of a strong sense of togetherness, in ASEAN community building, and reviewing his country’s major efforts towards the ASEAN membership.
This year, the Summit, under Indonesia’s ASEAN chairmanship is themed “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth.” Indonesia expressed hope that, the bloc will remain a centre of regional and global growth, focusing on efforts to make ASEAN a fast-growing, inclusive, and sustainable economic region, in the long term.
The Asian Development Bank forecast in early Apr that, developing Asia’s gross domestic product will grow by 4.8 percent this year and in 2024, up from 4.2 percent in 2022, noting, growth in the Asia-Pacific region remains resilient.
For the Summit, Indonesia has prepared a grand vision of ASEAN 2045, as well as, a discussion process on the draft ASEAN Leaders Declaration, to strengthen ASEAN’s institutional capacity and effectiveness, according to foreign ministry spokesperson, Teuku Faizasyah on Monday, last week.– NNN-ANTARA
