Indonesia Hosts ASEAN 2023 Summit, Foreign Minister Retno: Making Mission Impossible Possible

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi Wednesday (1/2/2023). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the experience as the Presidency or Chair of the G20 in 2022 is one of the provisions for Indonesia to optimize its role in the Chairship of ASEAN 2023, especially in realizing the theme.

"With the provisions and experience at the G20, prioritizing collaboration, cooperation, we continue to try to become great leaders, trying to continue to play continued power. We will try that ASEAN will also be able to remain relevant, where the theme is 'ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth'," said Retno Marsudi as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, February 1.

As Chair of the G20 2022, continued Retno, Indonesia can carry out its responsibility well, even though it is facing a bad world situation.

"So, like an impossible mission (an impossible mission) which eventually becomes possible (possibly) and the results are beyond expectations. So, like an oasis in the middle of a desert," he added.

Therefore, he considered this experience to be a provision for Indonesia to optimize its role as Chair of ASEAN 2023, especially in realizing the theme.

Furthermore, he explained that the "ASEAN Matters" in the theme "ASEAN Chairperson 2023" was related to Indonesia's desire to keep ASEAN relevant and play a central role in maintaining regional stability.

Furthermore, the "Epicentrum of Growth" refers to Indonesia's desire to further suppress ASEAN's economic growth which is always higher than world economic growth.

"So, that history says that we are related to the economy in ASEAN and data says ASEAN growth usually exceeds world growth. Projected this year, (ASEAN's economic growth by the Asian Development Bank) 4.7 percent, the world economy is projected by the World Bank is only 1.7 percent," he said.

Retno added that to realize this wish, Indonesia will make maximum efforts as Chair of ASEAN 2023.

On the same occasion, he also explained several things that were also conveyed at the Meeting of the Head of Submission of the Policy Direction of the Republic of Indonesia; including regarding the current world situation and several priorities of Indonesia, including carrying out the role of Chair of ASEAN 2023.