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Jokowi pushes for regional peace, stability in meetings with ASEAN partners
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Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (left) shakes hands with President Joko “Jokowi“ Widodo as the former passes on the ASEAN chairmanship to Indonesia at the closing ceremony of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits in Phnom Penh on Nov. 13. (AFP/Tang Chhin Sothy)
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n a series of meetings between ASEAN countries and their Indo-Pacific partners on Saturday, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo continued to advocate for regional peace and stability.
Jokowi kicked off the third day of the ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, by attending the ASEAN Plus Three summit with representatives from China, Japan and South Korea.
“The ASEAN Plus Three summit shielded us from the fallout of the 2008 global financial crisis. Now, we’re being tested with an even bigger crisis, but I believe if we can maintain the same spirit, we can weather this crisis as well," said Jokowi.
He said ASEAN and the three dialogue partners should focus on three main problems: the food crisis, possible economic recession and regional peace and stability.
Jokowi delivered these remarks in front of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, South Korea President Yoon Seok-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
In a later meeting between ASEAN and the United States, Jokowi made the same request to US President Joe Biden, saying that “[the comprehensive strategic partnership] between ASEAN and the US must help bring positive energy to regional peace and stability".
The US and China’s tug-of-war over influence in Southeast Asia remains a key issue for Indonesia and ASEAN in general.
