Indonesia Gears Up to Handover ASEAN Chairmanship to Laos

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - After leading the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN throughout 2023, Indonesia is gearing up to hand over the chairmanship to Laos after Dec. 31, 2023.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi expressed her gratitude for her peers in ASEAN and their support for Indonesia during its leadership.

"A few days ago, I contacted foreign ministers of ASEAN to deliver my gratitude for the support given throughout Indonesia's chairmanship in ASEAN," she said on Wednesday, Dec. 27.

Retno said that it was not easy, being the Chair of ASEAN. "But due to the continued support from all parties, we were successful in achieving the targets that have been laid out from the start of our chairmanship," she added.

Minister Retno ensured that Indonesia is fully committed to supporting Laos' chairmanship of ASEAN in 2024, including in its efforts to tackle the issue of Myanmar.

According to the foreign minister, Indonesia in its capacity of ASEAN Chair conducted over 180 meetings with almost all relevant stakeholders. "Hopefully the same measure will be taken by Laos," she said.

President Joko Widodo earlier delivered the mandate of the next ASEAN leadership to Prime Minister of Laos Sonexay Siphandone during the closing of the ASEAN Summit on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023.

Laos' leadership of ASEAN will bring the theme of "Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience". 

NABIILA AZZAHRA A.

Editor's Choice: Indonesian President Jokowi Outlines Priorities for Economic ASEAN-Japan Partnership

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News