VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo attended a series of 37 ASEAN Summit (Summit) virtually via video conference from the Bogor State Palace, West Java, on Thursday.

At this summit, Vietnam acted as the host for a series of 17 ASEAN summits attended by 10 ASEAN heads of state/government and 8 heads of state/government of ASEAN partner countries.

South Korea, the 23rd ASEAN Summit with Japan, and the 17th ASEAN Summit with India.

The main series of summits will discuss joint steps to prevent the wider impact of this pandemic on the region by emphasizing the priority of cooperation in 2021, particularly regarding the presence and production of vaccines for the region.

The summit will also discuss priorities for economic development in the region with partners to deal with the economic and social impacts of COVID-19.

One of the initiatives carried out by Indonesia at this summit is an effort to build a joint commitment with ASEAN to immediately reopen connectivity and restore economic activity in ASEAN through the ASEAN Travel Corridor Arrangement (TCA).

TCA is expected to facilitate travel access for business people in ASEAN countries in new normal situations while still observing health protocols.

"This summit is important to unite steps and gain future commitment from the leaders of ASEAN partner countries to tackle the pandemic in a more structured manner, according to the required deadlines so as not to further delay the impact of an increasingly complex pandemic on the world and regional situation," Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said, quoted from the kemlu.go.id page.

Also attending to accompany the President while attending the 37th ASEAN Summit virtually were State Secretary Pratikno, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, and Indonesian Permanent Representative to ASEAN Ade Padmo Sarwono. (Antaranews)