Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) received ASEAN Secretary General Dato' Lim Jock Hoi and his delegation at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Friday. As quoted on the Antara page (30/12), Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi after accompanying President Jokowi said that Dato' Lim Jock Hoi's visit was to express his gratitude for Indonesia's support to ASEAN while Dato' Lim served as Secretary General of ASEAN. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi disclosed that the most visible and most beneficial support was Indonesia's contribution to the development of the new ASEAN Secretariat.

The construction of the new building, is expected to improve the performance of the ASEAN Secretariat. Now   ASEAN meetings can be held in Jakarta, at the ASEAN Secretariat Building.

According to Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, during the meeting, the Secretary General of ASEAN Dato' Lim Jock Hoi expressed confidence that Indonesia could play a good role as Chair of ASEAN 2023. The theme for Indonesia's chairmanship namely the Epicentrum of Growth, is considered appropriate to be the focus of discussion. .

Minister Retno Marsudi explained that the Secretary General of ASEAN conveyed that economic development in each ASEAN country was quite promising. With this promising economic development, the theme of the Indonesian Chairmanship is very appropriate to put forward. She also explained that last week Dato' Lim Jock Hoi officially ended his duties as Secretary General of ASEAN and the position will be handed over to the new Secretary General of ASEAN.

Support for Indonesia's chairmanship in ASEAN 2023 was also conveyed by Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dato' Seri Zambry. Quoting the Cabinet Secretariat website, Dato' Sery Zambry conveyed this support when President Joko Widodo received him at the Merdeka Palace, last Friday (30/12).

Malaysia believes that under Indonesia's leadership, ASEAN will continue to make progress in building a safer, inclusive and sustainable region for the benefit of ASEAN.

According to Retno Marsudi, during the meeting Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato' Seri Zambry expressed his support and trust in Indonesia taking the chair of ASEAN in 2023. The Malaysian Foreign Minister said that Indonesia's chairmanship was a very strong chairmanship in the midst of quite a number of global challenges.