Jokowi Calls ASEAN-Japan Partnership Not Precise But Concrete Mutual Benefit

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo stated that the Strategic Comprehensive Partnership between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japan is a real cooperation that is mutually beneficial.

"ASEAN and Japan have agreed to form a Strategic Comprehensive Partnership which is not just ceremonial and not preamble, but instead takes the form of concrete cooperation that is mutually beneficial," President Jokowi said at the 26th ASEAN-Japan Summit at the Jakarta Convention Center, Wednesday, September 6, citing Antara.

The summit meeting is part of the series with the 43rd ASEAN Summit (KTT) in Jakarta from September 5 to 7, 2023.

President Jokowi called Japan one of ASEAN's most active partners and a key supporter of the ASEAN View on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).

He assessed that Japan could be a major contributor in realizing cooperation that would directly benefit the people.

Jokowi, who leads Indonesia's chairmanship of ASEAN this year, said ASEAN currently requires infrastructure investment worth USD 184 billion (IDR 2,810 trillion) per year.

ASEAN hopes that Japan can continue to increase its contribution to ASEAN through the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund and the ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility to support connectivity and green infrastructure.

The President said that geographically, Japan and ASEAN are Asia.

"This is our home, this is where we grow and take shelter," he said.

Therefore, he views ASEAN and Japan as both having a big responsibility in keeping the region peaceful, stable, and prosperous.

Indonesia will chair ASEAN 2023 after taking over from Cambodia, from January to the end of December 2023.

Indonesia raised the theme "ASEAN Matters, Epicentrum of Growth", that Indonesia wanted to make ASEAN relevant and important for the people of Indonesia, ASEAN, and the surrounding region, while in the "Epicentrum of Growth" Indonesia wanted to make ASEAN a center of economic growth.