President Jokowi to attend the European Union-ASEAN Summit in Brussels

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Joko Widodo was confirmed to be on his way to the Belgian capital, Brussels, to participate in the European Union and ASEAN summit which will be held on Wednesday, 14 December 2022. This is the first summit held by European Union leaders and ASEAN members to mark 45 years of diplomatic relations between the two organizations.

"That's right, (the president) has departed this morning," said Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah via text message to Tempo, Monday, December 12, 2022.

Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi will accompany President Jokowi during a visit to Europe this week. Regarding Indonesia's special agenda at the European Union and ASEAN Summit, Faizasyah admitted that he had not received any information.

President of the European Council, Charles Michel and chair of ASEAN 2022, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will conduct the EU and ASEAN summits in Brussels. According to the European Union, this summit is an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment of the two organizations.

"This (summit) will offer a political forum for the European Union and ASEAN in demonstrating their shared commitment to a regulation-based international order, respect for international law and the promotion of effective multilateralism," the EU said in a statement.

The European Union and ASEAN have become strategic partners in 2020. At the Summit, leaders are expected to discuss past achievements and a plan for the future in various areas of strategic partnership, including connectivity, energy transition, trade and digital transition.

Discussions at the summit will cover cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, highlighting common principles and synergies between the EU Indo-Pacific Strategy and the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Outlook. It is also believed that the two blocks must convey their commitment to comply with international law based on the UN charter.

Indonesia received the chair for the ASEAN presidency from Cambodia about a month ago. During the handover of chairmanship in Phnom Penh, President Jokowi said ASEAN must become a stable, peaceful region and the anchor of world stability.

For the 2023 leadership, Indonesia carries the topic ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth. President Jokowi hopes that ASEAN will become a dignified region that upholds human and democratic values. He also alluded to ASEAN not being a proxy for any party or group.

DANIEL A. FAJRI l IMAJI LASAHIDO

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