During the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held on Monday(September 4), underscoring the importance of unity and inclusiveness within the ASEAN bloc.
In Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia and the current chair of ASEAN, foreign ministers from the ASEAN convened on the agenda covering wide spectrum of subjects, including discussions on Myanmar, the development of a code of conduct for the South China Sea, regional economic matters, transnational crime, and various other issues of significance.
The regional bloc is set to revisit its stalled peace plan for Myanmar, expressing mounting frustration with the military junta’s inability to quell violence, despite over two years passing since it seized power through a coup.
ASEAN had previously endorsed a peace plan, referred to as the “five-point consensus,” which urges an end to violence and encourages dialogue among all stakeholders. However, Myanmar’s military leaders have largely offered mere verbal commitments without substantial action.
These discussions took place ahead of the upcoming 43rd ASEAN summit, scheduled to commence on Tuesday, September 5th. Indonesian President Joko Widodo is slated to inaugurate the meeting on Tuesday. This gathering will bring together heads of state from 11 ASEAN countries and nine partner nations, providing a platform for discussions in various regional forums. These conversations will focus on strategies to strengthen bilateral cooperation and foster economic partnerships.
The theme of the 43rd Summit and Related Summits is “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth.” The summit is scheduled to conclude on September 7th, culminating in a ceremony where Indonesia will officially pass on the ASEAN Chairmanship to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
The ASEAN summit and its concurrent summit meetings carry great importance as they provide a forum for leaders of Southeast Asian nations to engage in dialogue and collaboration, with the active involvement of key partner countries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Jakarta on 06-07 September 2023. The Prime minister will attend the 20th ASEAN-India Summit and the 18th East Asia Summit.