Jokowi: Everything Related To The 43rd ASEAN Summit Has Been Prepared

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is preparing to provide information/ANTARA

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said all matters related to the implementation of the 43rd ASEAN Summit, Jakarta, 5-7 September 2023 have been planned and prepared. Jokowi explained that all preparations are expected to reach 100 percent ahead of the Southeast Asian block summit in September 2023. "Everything has been planned, it has been prepared and we hope that by the time the ASEAN Summit, everything will be 100 percent ready in September," Jokowi said after attending the 56th ASEAN Anniversary Commemoration in Jakarta, Antara, Tuesday, August 8. When asked about the confirmation of the presence of non-ASEAN heads of state who will attend the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Jokowi said everything was still in progress. "“ Until now it is still in progress," he said. Likewise, when asked about the news that the President of the United States (US) Joe Biden would also attend the 43rd ASEAN Summit, Jokowi said the same thing that everything was still in process. "Everything is still in process, the confirmation is still in process," he said. At the 42nd summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, May 2023, the summit of the Southeast Asian bloc was attended by eight ASEAN heads of state, secretary general ASEAN, and Prime Minister of Timor Leste Taur Matan Ruak. Two ASEAN countries that were not present at the 42nd ASEAN Summit at the time were Thailand and Myanmar. President Jokowi in commemoration of ASEAN's 56th Anniversary, Tuesday, said that Indonesia, as chairman of ASEAN, wants to lay a strong foundation for the region to be able to face the challenges and responsiveness of the dynamics and play a central role. “Indeed, we are aware that the situation in Myanmar is still a challenge, ASEAN's efforts to help Myanmar continue to be carried out from the Five-Point Consensus. However, we must also realize that the situation can be resolved if there is political will throughout Myanmar,” said Jokowi. ASEAN, said Jokowi, as a large ship must continue to move forward and sail.

"This large ship must not sink, because this is our responsibility for hundreds of lives, the people in it," said Jokowi.