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Jokowi inaugurates ASEAN building, calls for unity
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi shake hands during the inauguration of the new ASEAN Secretariat building in Jakarta on Aug. 8. The inauguration was held in conjunction with the 52nd anniversary of ASEAN. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
P
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Thursday called for ASEAN unity against the backdrop of increasing rivalry among major powers in the region as Indonesia inaugurated the new building for the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta.
The inauguration of the building took place during ASEAN Day, which falls every Aug. 8 to commemorate the establishment of ASEAN by its five founding members -- Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines -- in 1967.
Jokowi said ASEAN must be able to maintain its relevance as a regional grouping in the face of global challenges.
"In the future, ASEAN will face challenges that are not easy. The tug-of-war between the great powers can certainly be more intense. While domestically, the people of each ASEAN nation will continue to ask questions about the benefits of ASEAN," Jokowi said.
He highlighted ASEAN’s centrality and its role in maintaining regional stability and peace, especially following the adoption of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific at the ASEAN Summit in Bangkok in June. The document outlines ASEAN's geostrategic concept of the Indo-Pacific region and ASEAN centrality amid the competing global powers, mainly the United States and China.
“One of the keys needed by ASEAN is unity, which will allow ASEAN to continue to be able to play a central role,” Jokowi said. ”This outlook is to show ASEAN's position and attitude in responding to the dynamics of the Indo-Pacific region.”
ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi and ASEAN foreign ministers were among the guests attending Thursday's inauguration ceremony of the new building, which is expected to help improve the work of the ASEAN Secretariat.
