12-8-2023 (JAKARTA) The upcoming 43rd ASEAN Summit is poised to address the pressing challenges that the bloc is expected to face over the next two decades. Taking place in Jakarta from September 5–7, 2023, the summit will be hosted by ASEAN chair Indonesia.
Sidharto Suryodipuro, the Director-General of ASEAN Cooperation at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the importance of laying a solid foundation for ASEAN cooperation in tackling current and future obstacles. In a virtual press briefing, he emphasized the need to strengthen the institution and its operational mechanisms.
Several aspects of ASEAN require strengthening, including human resources within the ASEAN community, dialogues on human rights, and maritime cooperation among member countries. Indonesia, having previously chaired ASEAN in 1976, 2003, and 2011, has played a significant role in advancing cooperative agreements within the bloc. Notable achievements during its chairmanship include the establishment of the ASEAN Secretariat, discussions on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty, the ASEAN community, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a free-trade agreement among Asia-Pacific nations.
Efforts to strengthen ASEAN institutions began in 2022 with the High-Level Task Force’s Recommendations on the Post-2025 ASEAN Community Vision (HLTF-ACV) on Strengthening ASEAN’s Capacity and Institutional Effectiveness. These discussions were further emphasized at the 42nd Summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), in May, where ASEAN leaders engaged with the high-level task force. The leaders recognized the importance of enhancing the bloc’s capacity and institutional effectiveness to enable swift responses to crises and emergency situations.
The 2023 ASEAN Summit in Jakarta will be attended not only by ASEAN leaders but also by external partners such as China, Japan, South Korea, the United States, Australia, and India. Indonesia anticipates the participation of 27 world leaders and international bodies, including the Canadian Prime Minister, executive directors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, and 18 leaders of countries participating in the East Asia Summit (EAS).
The East Asia Summit encompasses 18 participating countries, including 10 ASEAN member states, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia, and the United States.
