Summit focuses on unity and growth

Bilateral meet: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim holding a discussion with his Timor-Leste counterpart Ruak during the Asean summit in Labuan Bajo. Also present is Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir (second from left). — Bernama

LABUAN BAJO (Indonesia): The 42nd Asean summit officially kicked off in the town of Labuan Bajo in eastern Indonesia, with Indonesian President Joko (Jokowi) Widodo urging for Asean unity and economic integration for the regional bloc to play a central role in regional peace and development.

“With unity, Asean will be able to be a central player in bringing peace and development.

“In the future, Asean must strengthen its economic integration, strengthen inclusive cooperation, including the implementation of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and strengthen the health, food and energy architecture, as well as maintain the financial stability,” Xinhua quoted Jokowi as saying.

The summit is expected to produce a roadmap for Timor-Leste’s full membership.

Last November, Asean agreed in principle to admit Timor-Leste to be its 11th member.

Timor-Leste’s Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak was present at the summit and delivered a speech following Jokowi’s opening address, stressing a mutual recognition of a strong sense of togetherness in Asean community building and reviewing his country’s major efforts towards Asean membership.

This year, the summit under Indonesia’s chairmanship is themed “Asean Matters: Epicentrum of Growth”.

Indonesia has expressed hope that the bloc will remain a centre of regional and global growth, focusing on efforts to make Asean a fast-growing, inclusive, and sustainable economic region in the long term.

The Asian Development Bank forecast in early April that developing Asia’s gross domestic product will grow by 4.8% this year and in 2024, up from 4.2% in 2022, noting growth in the Asia-Pacific region remains resilient.

For the summit, Indonesia has prepared a grand vision of Asean 2045 as well as a discussion process on the draft Asean Leaders Declaration to strengthen the group’s institutional capacity and effectiveness, according to foreign ministry spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah last week.

Asean, which was founded in 1967, groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. — Bernama/Xinhua