Indonesia Hosts This Year's Summit, Jokowi Emphasizes Not Wanting ASEAN To Become A War Proction

President Jokowi (doc. BPMI Setpres)

WEST MANGGARAI - President Joko Widodo revealed the principle of Indonesia in holding the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2023 in connection with the holding of the ASEAN 2023 Summit (KTT) which was held in the country.

Jokowi emphasized that Indonesia does not want to make the Southeast Asian state geopolitical organization a proxy involved in any war.

This was revealed by Jokowi when checking the readiness of facilities ahead of the ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The ASEAN Summit agenda in NTT will be held on May 10 and 11, 2023.

"Indonesia's principle in ASEAN chairman is collaboration and cooperation with anyone and we don't want ASEAN to be anyone's proxy, any country's proxies," Jokowi said in a YouTube broadcast by the Presidential Secretariat, Sunday, May 7.

Jokowi emphasized that Indonesia as the chairman of ASEAN prioritizes the principles of collaboration and cooperation between ASEAN and any party.

"What we want the aspect is open, cooperation with anyone with any country so that solving every problem in the aspect is the principle of dialogue," he explained.

He gave an example of ASEAN's role in the conflict in Myanmar. Jokowi said that this issue would be discussed specifically at the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo.

"In particular, it will be discussed, but our reference remains for Myanmar. Our reference remains a five point consensus, it remains a reference but must be in dialogue, because I think sanctions are not a solution," he explained.

For the Myanmar issue, Jokowi hopes that the conflict there can be resolved immediately. Then, he said humanitarian aid must reach the people of Myanmar.

"The third, important dialogue, which is active not only here, but also in Myanmar itself, must be active to play a role in the dialogues we carry out," he said.