President Ferdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� Marcos Jr. (third from left) joins regional leaders during the 43rd Asean Summit Opening Ceremony in Jakarta, Indonesia on Tuesday, September 5, 2023. (Photo from Jean Mangaluz)
UPDATED JAKARTA, Indonesia 鈥斅燭he 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) formally began on Tuesday, with Indonesia President Joko Widodo stressing the importance of unity amid challenges.
Widodo addressed regional leaders, including President Ferdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� Marcos Jr., at the Jakarta Convention Center for the Summit.
鈥淒istinguished Asean members, we are all aware of the magnitude of current global challenges, and the main key to addressing them is Asean鈥檚 unity and centrality. ASEAN鈥檚 objective is clear to become an epicentrum of growth,鈥� said Widodo in his opening speech.
Widodo did not specify these local challenges, but the Asean Summit is being held against tensions in the South China Sea 鈥� especially as China recently expanded its claim in the disputed waters with a new 10-dash line map.
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鈥淎sean must be able to work harder, become more solid, bolder, and more agile,鈥� Widodo added.
Widodo likened Asean nations to a ship responsible for steering its population through a storm.
鈥淎sean, as a large ship, also has a major responsibility towards the hundreds of millions of people who are sailing together on it and despite having to sail through a storm, we as Asean leaders must ensure that this ship can continue to sail and that we have to be captains of our own ship to achieve peace, to achieve stability, to achieve prosperity,鈥� said Widodo.
鈥淲e have to be captains of our own ship to achieve peace, to achieve prosperity together,鈥� said Widodo.
Marcos said he will advance the Philippines鈥� interests during the three-day Summit.
鈥淚 will also take the opportunity to meet with bilateral partners at the sidelines of the Asean Summit to advance cooperation that will benefit our national priorities. As a founding member, Asean has always been closely intertwined with Philippine foreign policy,鈥� Marcos said previously.
Marcos will meet with leaders from both Asean and dialogue partners.
Member states in the Asean Summit include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Timor-Leste is currently under observer status before it can join the Asean Summit.
The Asean has several dialogue partners, including聽 Australia, Canada, China, European Union, India, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Russia, and the United States.
As the highest policy-making body in the Asean, the Summit is supposed to enhance peace, security stability and regional resilience.
The Asean Summit is held twice every year, with the dates being determined by the country that has the current chairmanship. Indonesia served as Chair for 2023, with Laos set to take over next year.