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Jokowi conveys words of wisdom to new ASEAN chair Laos
Laos will serve as the chair of ASEAN throughout 2016, a key year for the regional group to work on the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) amid rising tensions over competing sovereignty claims in the South China Sea.
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Close ties -- President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo talks to Laotian President Choummaly Sayasone in Indian Wells, the US, before attending the ASEAN-US Summit on Monday. Jokowi welcomed Laos’ chairmanship of ASEAN, stressing that this year was an especially important one for the regional grouping. (Courtesy of the Presidential Office/-)
P
resident Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has congratulated Laos on its selection for the ASEAN chairmanship in 2016, saying that this year is an important milestone for ASEAN, as the ASEAN Economic Community was coming into effect.
At a courtesy call with President Choumaly Sayasone of Laos in California, the US, on Monday morning local time, Jokowi stressed that Laos was adopting the chairmanship at a key moment for the regional group.
"Congratulations to Laos on the ASEAN chairmanship. I am sure the chairmanship will lead ASEAN to be better and more successful," Jokowi said in a statement on Tuesday morning.
He stressed that a number of issues would remain a priority, including economic and maritime cooperation, peace and stability in the South China Sea, the empowerment of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to ensure equitable development in the region, cross-border crime prevention and the protection of migrant workers.
Jokowi underlined that the unity of ASEAN in a fluid and competitive world was vital.
"As such, Indonesia gives its full support to Laos in the ASEAN chairmanship," the President reiterated.
Laos, one of the least developed members of ASEAN, will serve as the group's chairman in 2016.
On the same occasion, Jokowi said he expected bilateral relations between Indonesia and Laos to continue to increase, especially in the fields of trade, investment and tourism.
Jokowi also welcomed Laos’ interest in buying Indonesia's strategic industrial products, such as light transportation aircraft. He also said Indonesia was ready to participate in infrastructure development in Laos.
Jokowi further said he expected increases in tourist visits from and to Laos. The government also aims to boost people-to-people contacts between the two countries by inviting Lao citizens to continue their education at universities in Indonesia. (ami/ebf)
