JAKARTA, May 5 — Indonesia, as Asean’s chairman this year, hopes to establish a strong basis for a long-term vision beyond 2025 with a period of 20 years, or named “Asean 2045 said Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.
The 42nd Asean Summit will focus on that issue the following week in accordance with initiatives to forge real, inclusive collaboration in order to make the Indo-Pacific a peaceful and prosperous area.
“This effort is important to do in order to face Asean’s challenges for the long term. This is where capacity and institutional strengthening are needed for Asean to be more ‘agile’,” she said.
Indonesia will also keep promoting collaboration in the areas of health, energy, financial stability, trafficking in persons involving online scams, and the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
“Negotiations are ongoing, especially for the documents that will be produced in this summit,” said Retno at a media briefing today.
Among the ‘key deliverables’ that will be discussed at the Senior Officials’ Meeting and the foreign ministers meeting are the Chair Statement, full membership of Timor Leste, combating human trafficking, rural broadband network, electric vehicle ecosystem, and regional payment connectivity.
According to Retno, the Asean Summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara which will take place from May 10 to 11 will be attended by eight national leaders as well as the Asean Secretary General and the Prime Minister of Timor Leste.
Myanmar was not invited at the political level while Thailand will be represented by the Deputy Prime Minister as a special envoy following the elections in that country on May 14, she said.
Leaders are scheduled to hold meetings with the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), youth, Asean Business Advisory Council (ABAC), a high-level task force, and attend the Summit Retreat.
On Myanmar, Retno said Indonesia, which has adopted a non-megaphone diplomacy approach, has held more than 60 engagement sessions so far with various parties in the country so that an inclusive national dialogue can be carried out immediately.
“However, it must be acknowledged that the differences in position between the stakeholders in Myanmar are still wide and deep,” she said, referring to the National Unity Government (NUG), State Administration Council (SAC) and Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAO).
The Asean Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance and the Asean Secretary-General will report on developments in Myanmar and the humanitarian aid operation during the summit.
— Bernama
