Puan Leads Parliament In Southeast Asia To Draft Messages To Be Delivered At The ASEAN Summit

DPR Doc

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, chaired a preparatory meeting with representatives of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) parliament ahead of the ASEAN-AIPA Leaders Interface Meeting, which is a series of activities at the 42nd ASEAN Summit (KTT) in Labuan Bajo.

Puan led the Preparation Meeting with AIPA members because of her position as Chair of AIPA in 2023. The preparation meeting was held in Manta Room, Plataran Komodo Resort and Spa, Labuan Bajo area, West Manggarai Regency, NTT, Tuesday 9 May.

All parliamentary representatives throughout Southeast Asia who are members of AIPA were also present. Among them were Vietnam DPR Speaker Nguyen Duc Hai, Lao House Speaker Sounthone Xayachack, Malaysian parliament representative, Dato Johari bin Abdul and Singapore parliament representative Desmond Choo.

Meanwhile, the Thai Parliament was represented by Singsuk Singpai who is the First Deputy Chair of the Thailand High Council. At the ASEAN Summit itself, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha was unable to attend because he was preparing for the election which was planned to take place this weekend. Thailand is represented by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs (Menlu), Don Pramudwinai.

"Welcome to Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. It is an honor for the DPR RI to host the ASEAN Parliament Preparation Meeting AIPA Leaders Interface Meeting 2023," said Puan to the ASEAN parliamentary delegation present.

ASEAN-AIPA Leaders Interface which is a plenary session between ASEAN state leaders and AIPA at the ASEAN Summit will be held tomorrow, May 10, 2023. Puan said the ASEAN-AIPA Interface is an important forum as a forum for dialogue and cooperation between ASEAN leaders and parliament members of AIPA.

"ASEAN-AIPA Leaders Interface is an important platform for dialogue and consultation between ASEAN Leaders and AIPA," said the first woman to serve as Chair of the DPR RI.

In this Preparatory Meeting, all delegates present will review the initial draft of the AIPA message or AIPA Message which will be delivered at the ASEAN-AIPA Leaders Interface. AIPA Message or AIPA Message which has been approved by all representatives of the Southeast Asian parliament will be read out by Puan in front of 11 ASEAN state leaders.

"Tomorrow we will convey the things AIPA is doing in front of ASEAN state leaders which will be opened by President Jokowi," said Puan.

With the existence of AIPA Massage, there will be close collaboration between the two. It is hoped that it can create stronger political, security and trade stability and encourage sustainable economic development in the Southeast Asia region," continued Puan.

According to Bung Karno's grandson, the AIPA Preparatory Meeting also discussed global economic growth which was relatively slow due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the existence of war, and disruption of food and energy supply. To deal with global issues, said Puan, cooperation between the executive and the legislature is needed.

"We can convey issues related to ASEAN and cooperate with the executive or government on issues and find the desired solution," explained the former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture.

Puan continued, Indonesia will encourage the issue of protecting Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) who often get violence and exploitation while working abroad. Moreover, many PMIs exist in Southeast Asian countries.

"This is also an issue discussed, not only in parliament but also in the executive or government and I feel that the ASEAN Summit together with AIPA will be an important place related to problems and find solutions related to strengthening the protection of migrant workers in ASEAN," explained Puan.

"We also have to fight the trafficking of people in this area," he continued.

In front of the delegates, Puan said Southeast Asia is currently also facing increasing geopolitical tensions and competition for great powers. Like the potential for conflict to arise in the South China Sea if it is not managed properly. "Some experts have warned us that the situation resembles a cold war era," he said.

At the same time, regional countries are also faced with extreme weather. The impact of other global warming is also said to have had a more severe impact on the region. "In short, we live in an era of a double crisis and a fragmented world. The problems we face are very complex and interrelated," said Puan. These challenges have put pressure on ASEAN in an effort to create a peaceful and prosperous region," she added.

Puan emphasized that parliament must contribute and be part of the solution to a complex global challenge considering that the government will not be able to solve it on its own. "In this region, we need to support various ASEAN instruments to create peace and prosperity in Southeast Asia," said Puan.

"I believe that dialogue between parliaments from various countries in the region will help build trust among major countries," he continued.

Puan stated that ASEAN state leaders must be able to avoid the region becoming a hot spot for major power competition. Southeast Asian countries must also work together to avoid escalation of tensions and miscalculations among large forces, which can trigger open conflict in the region.

According to him, the parliament of ASEAN member countries must support the promotion of the Friendship and Cooperation Agreement (TAC) in Southeast Asia.

"The TAC is very relevant for promoting universal principles of peaceful coexistence and friendly relations through the rejection of the use of violence and resolving disputes in a peaceful manner," said Puan.

Puan stated that a peaceful area is a prerequisite for a prosperous Southeast Asia. This is an enabler to achieve various social goals such as poverty alleviation in the economic sector, we need to further strengthen our regional economic cooperation and integration. This is to respond to world economic fragmentation, and disruption to the global supply chain," she explained.

The holder of the two Honoris Causa Doctorate degrees said AIPA must build ASEAN as the epicenter of global economic growth, as agreed as the theme of ASEAN in 2023. According to Puan, this will help ASEAN countries create more jobs, provide health and education services for people in the region.

ASEAN has enormous economic potential, because our economic growth has always been above the global growth average," he said. In the socio-cultural field, we must help strengthen relations between communities, especially among the younger generation. Likewise, parliament in this area must continue its role as a guardian of democracy, rule of law, and human rights," added Puan. Indonesian parliament also encourages ASEAN countries to strengthen their unity and centrality to be relevant to new challenges. Puan is also confident that the active participation of the ASEAN state parliament, will be able to make a real contribution to peace and prosperity in Southeast Asia.

"Therefore, let's work together to answer this challenge. And let's work together for the progress of the people we serve," said the former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture.

This meeting also marks the start of the 6th period of AIPA Indonesia. After the opening of the Preparatory Meeting, all AIPA members carried out a foro together with the sea view background facing the islands surrounding Labuan Bajo.