JAKARTA: The 43rd Asean Summit and Related Summits were opened today by the regional bloc's chairman Indonesia, reaffirming the member states' commitment against any attempt by the world's superpowers to make them their proxy in the region.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo said the 11 members of Asean were resolute in their love for the "Asean family" and would not allow their platform to be used by outside forces to create disunity.
"We realise that the world will face all kinds of issues, and the future will bring even greater challenges and there will be things which lead to a tussle for influence by the superpowers, but Asean is united in not allowing itself to become a proxy to any powers whatsoever.
"We cooperate with whoever for the sake of peace and prosperity. Do not make our (Asean) vessel as an arena to stoke rivalry which could lead to destruction. Instead, use our Asean vessel as a platform to forge cooperation towards peace, stability and efforts to create peace not only within our region but in the world," he said in his remarks at the opening of the 43rd Asean Summit and Related Summits at the Jakarta Convention Centre here today.
Joko Widodo, known more popularly as Jokowi, said unity among the 11-member regional bloc was something they worked on constantly despite the differences that each member may have in any given time.
He said this unity amidst diversity of culture, religions and opinions was similar to foundations of Indonesia, whose chairmanship of Asean this year is themed, "Asean Matters: Epicentrum of Growth".
"I do hear about questions often asked about Asean, and whether Asean could become disunited. Would Asean be able steer full steam ahead? In the good momentum we enjoy as a member of the Asean family and as its current chairman, I want to stress that Asean unity remains strong until this day.
"Do not misunderstand that unity can happen even amidst differences of opinions. As a country with a multicultural, multilingual and multi-religious composition, for Indonesia, unity is about harmony amidst differences, including differences of opinions.
He said accepting differences of opinions was important in any democracy, and such disagreements within Asean members should not be seen as a hindrance to achieving equality.
"A lot of injustice and conflicts occur because of the absence of equality. In Asean, it is different, maintaining equality is a value which we respect and uphold within our regional framework to make sure we can forge forward."
Jokowi paid tribute to Asean's dialogue partners, who are taking part in this session of the summit, and admitted that as a regional bloc, they needed to maintain cooperation with all existing and new partners to face the challenges in an ever-changing world.
Earlier, the leaders of Asean and some of their dialogue partners arrived at the Jakarta Convention Centre for the summit's opening.
Besides Jokowi, who welcomed each head of government, those who arrived at the venue were Laos Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Thailand Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Sarun Charoensuwan, Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Malaysia Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Vietnam Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, Timor Leste President Xanana Gusmao and Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
Myanmar did not send a representative. Also attending the ceremony were Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and Bangladesh President Mohammad Shahabuddin.
