VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Thursday (8/8), inaugurated the new ASEAN Secretariat building in South Jakarta area. The new building is located just behind the old ASEAN Secretariat building. It was built using a grant land from the Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta. In his remarks, President Joko Widodo mentioned a number of challenges that ASEAN would face in the future, starting from the tug-of-war of major powers in the world to the relevance of ASEAN in responding to all global challenges in the future. Indonesia's commitment is to continue supporting ASEAN. This support is given so that ASEAN can answer the challenges of the times and answer the questions of the community, especially in the region. One form of Indonesia's support is the construction of a new ASEAN Secretariat building.

“The tug-of-war between large forces will certainly be sharper. While in our respective countries, people will continue to ask the benefits of ASEAN for the people of ASEAN. Therefore, ASEAN must maintain its reputation. Relevant to new developments in the world, relevant to the fulfillment of the interests of the people of ASEAN, and ASEAN must work faster in responding to changes very quickly. All are moving fast. ASEAN must move quickly and solidly. As the host, Indonesia is trying to facilitate ASEAN in working quickly and solidly, effectively and efficiently. With that in mind, we build the ASEAN building. This new building shows the new spirit of ASEAN, reflecting the new ASEAN. And I hope that in the future most ASEAN activities should be carried out in this building,” said Joko Widodo.

The new ASEAN Secretariat building has 2 towers, each of which is 16 stories high. Both towers are connected by a connecting bridge or a 40.5 meter long skybridge. This bridge is the longest bridge in Indonesia for the building bridge category without support. Attending the inauguration of the new building of the ASEAN Secretariat were a number of Working Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of friendly countries, representatives of friendly countries in Indonesia, Secretary General of ASEAN and the Governor of DKI Jakarta. (VOI/ANDY/AHM)