Foreign Minister Retno Says ASEAN Must Take A Brave Decision To Continue To Advance And Stay Relevant

JAKARTA - ASEAN Foreign Minister agreed to recommend ASEAN Concord IV to be ratified at the ASEAN 43rd Summit meeting, after holding an ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) meeting in Jakarta on Monday.

The preparation of the ASEAN Concord IV is Indonesia's proposal. This document will become the foundation for the preparation of the ASEAN 2045 Vision, strengthening ASEAN in order to overcome various challenges of the future.

"The challenges we face today are already big. However, the challenges we will face in the future will be even greater. Whether ASEAN can continue to advance or not depends on all of us," said Foreign Minister Retno while chairing the ACC meeting, according to a written statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Monday, September 4.

"In order to continue to advance and remain relevant, ASEAN must dare to make bold decisions. Differences among members should not be a barrier to ASEAN's progress," he added.

In this regard, in this week's ASEAN 43rd Summit in Jakarta, a decision will also be adopted regarding the acceleration of decision-making in times of crisis, as well as strengthening ASEAN capacity to face new challenges.

It is known that the preparation of the ASEAN 2045 People's Vision will begin in 2023 by the High-Level Task Force (HLTF) on the ASEAN Community's Vision 2045 under the chairmanship with Indonesia and Malaysia. This vision will be ratified in 2025.

At this meeting, ASEAN member countries expressed their appreciation for HLTF's performance, agreeing to provide principle support for the ASEAN Community 2045 Vision document.