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ASEAN Summit: Time to focus beyond Myanmar issues
ASEAN cooperation and initiatives should not be reduced to Myanmar’s issue only.
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Enter the dragon: Workers clean up a park at Komodo Airport in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, on May 4, 2023, ahead of the ASEAN Summit. The tourist destination, home to the endemic Komodo dragon, will host the summit next week. (Antara/Zabur Karuru)
As I strolled along the beach in Labuan Bajo, I was met with the island’s breathtaking views.
Greeted with scenes that belong on a postcard, of waves crashing against the shore and a seemingly endless series of undulating hills, it is no wonder this fishing town, located in the eastern part of Indonesia, has steadily seen a growth in popularity.
Out the window of the hotel where I stay, I can see many pinisi boats that are anchored at the bay.
These boats are a type of traditional vessel from Southern Sulawesi and along with the bustling activities of the fisherman at a nearby market, one cannot help but be nostalgic about the folklore that our ancestors were once resilient seafarers, a reality I hope we still carry to this day.
Now, in a matter of days, Labuan Bajo will be the center of global interest, not particularly for its beauty and proximity to the Komodo Dragon’s sanctuary, but rather as the venue for the ASEAN Summit under Indonesia’s chairmanship.
Several months have now passed since Indonesia assumed its chairmanship of the regional grouping in 2023. The 42nd summit next week will give the ASEAN leaders the opportunity to discuss and impart their wisdom on various topics of mutual interest.
Topics for their discussions range from the strengthening of ASEAN as an institution, the post-pandemic health infrastructure and economic recovery, latest developments at a regional and global level all the way to ASEAN Vision post-2025.
