Jokowi Greets 3 State Leaders When Opening The ASEAN Summit

POOL/ANTARA PHOTO/Rivan Awal Lingga/foc.

LABUAN BAJO - President Joko Widodo conveyed his special greetings to three state leaders when opening the plenary session for the opening of the 42nd ASEAN Summit at the Meruorah Convention Center, Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara.

The three leaders of the country are Malaysian Prime Minister (PM) Anwar Ibrahim, Laos Sonexay PM S▁putradone, and Timorese Prime Minister Leste Taur Matan Ruak.

"I would like to welcome His Excellency Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia. And His Excellency Sonexay S▁putradone, Prime Minister of Laos and also His Excellency Taur Matan Ruak, Prime Minister of Timor Leste. Welcome to the ASEAN family," Jokowi said as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, May 10.

The three leaders who were specifically mentioned by President Jokowi in the speech were indeed attending the ASEAN Summit for the first time.

Anwar Ibrahim has only been inaugurated as Malaysia's 10th PM since November 24, 2022, or about 10 days after the implementation of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits at Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Sonexay S▁putradone has been appointed as the Prime Minister of Laos since December 30, 2022, as well as will serve as Chair of ASEAN 2024.

Timorese Prime Minister Leste Taur Matan Ruak for the first time attended the ASEAN summit leader meeting after being principled to be accepted as a member of the 11th ASEAN at the end of last year.

The formulation of the Timor Leste roadmap to become a full member of ASEAN is one of the discussions at the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo.

The ASEAN 42nd Summit was attended directly by all leaders of the regional cooperation organization countries plus Timor Leste, except Thailand and Myanmar.

Thai PM Prayur Chan-o-cha is absent because the White Elephant Country is preparing for the election vote which is scheduled to take place on May 14, 2023, so that they are represented by Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs Don Pramudwinai.

The Myanmar junta is still excluded by ASEAN from high-level meetings of the regional organization for failing to implement the Five-Point Consensus (5PC), a peace plan initiated by ASEAN leaders in April 2021 to help end the conflict in Myanmar.

Previously, in a photo session together after the arrival of ASEAN leaders at the venue, PM Sonexay stood right next to President Jokowi in the middle of the line. This marks Laos as the holder of the 2024 ASEAN Chairship.

In this chairmanship, Indonesia raised the theme ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth which means ASEAN is relevant and important as a center of world growth.

Indonesia aims to strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of ASEAN institutions so that it can answer the challenges of the next 20 years.

Indonesia will guard the area towards ASEAN 2045 which needs to be more adaptive, responsive, and competitive in an ASEAN way that is in line with the principles of the ASEAN Charter.

In its chairmanship, Indonesia invites ASEAN countries to play an active role and offer ideas and solutions for peace and prosperity in the region.

As chairman, Indonesia also aims to strengthen economic recovery and make Southeast Asia a sustainable growth engine.