VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOInews, Jakarta: President Joko Widodo has called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to be more compact, brave, and agile in facing current global challenges.

"ASEAN also needs a long-term tactical strategy that is relevant and in line with the expectations of the people," the President said when opening the plenary session of the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Tuesday (5/9/2023).

He said that ASEAN as part of the Indo-Pacific region consistently works hard to take an inclusive approach to advancing the economy and development so that ASEAN can have a real impact on the people and the world.

"ASEAN as a big ship has a big responsibility, to the hundreds of millions of people who sail together in it," he said.

For this reason, according to him, ASEAN leaders must ensure that the ship can continue to sail even in the midst of storms.

"We must ensure that this ship is able to keep going, able to continue sailing, and we must be the skipper of our own ship to realize peace, realize stability, realize mutual prosperity," he said.

The President also said ASEAN member states have been discussing the drafting of the 4th ASEAN concord to formulate the organization's strategy in the next 20 years until 2045. (VOI/Andy)