Reminding The Great Responsibility Of ASEAN, President Jokowi: Need A Long-Term Tactical Strategy According To People's Expectations

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo reminded the magnitude of ASEAN's responsibility, so that it requires a relevant long-term strategy and according to the expectations of the people.

"ASEAN as a large ship has also a big responsibility, in the hundreds of millions of people who sailed together in it," said President Jokowi, when opening the ASEAN 43rd Plenary Session of the ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Tuesday, September 5.

"And even though we have to sail in the middle of a storm, we as ASEAN leaders must ensure that this ship is capable of continuing to advance, capable of continuing to sail, and we must be captains on our own ship to realize peace, realize stability, realize prosperity together," continued President Jokowi.

President Jokowi said, amid the current challenges of the world, ASEAN's unity and centrality are the main keys to facing the current challenges of the world.

"ASEAN's direction is clear, becoming the 'Epicentrum of Growth'. ASEAN's capital is big to achieve it. However, ASEAN must be able to work harder, be more compact, bolder and more agile,

"In addition, ASEAN also needs a relevant long-term tactical strategy and according to the expectations of the people. Which is not only for the next five years, but for the next 20 years until 2045," said President Jokowi.

Previously, President Jokowi officially opened the 43rd ASEAN Summit which was attended by a delegation of 22 countries, consisting of 11 member countries and nine partner countries including the United States, South Korea, Japan, India, China, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Russia. As well as two invited countries, Bangladesh as Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and Cook Islands as Chair of the Pacific Island Forum (PIF).

Indonesia also invites international organizations such as the United Nations (UN), World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Economic Forum, IORA and PIF.

Present at the opening were Prime Minister Laos Sonexay Sryptone, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Vietnamese PM Phm Minh Chmengh, Timorese President Leste Xana Gusmao, PM Cook Island Mark Brown, Bangladeshi President Mohammad Shahabuddin, Sultan Brunei Darussalam Hassanal Bolkiah and Thailand Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Sarun Charoensuwan