Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) emphasized that the ASEAN needs the support of its parliaments to build a prosperous Southeast Asian region.
“Our task is to leverage the trust in ASEAN to build a prosperous Southeast Asia. This requires the support of ASEAN parliaments,” he noted during the 44th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in Jakarta on Monday.
Jokowi cited a survey conducted by the EU-ASEAN Business Sentiment among 600 private sectors in the EU, revealing that the ASEAN is considered as a region with the best economic opportunities, at 63 percent, surpassing China, 12 percent, and India, eight percent.
Around 80 percent of the respondents in the survey also view ASEAN as an essential region, and approximately 84 percent are keen to increase their trade transactions with ASEAN.
“The survey shows a high level of confidence in ASEAN, and our collective task is to capitalize on that trust,” Jokowi affirmed.
He also underscored the importance of all parties working hard to realize a prosperous Southeast Asian region.
“The ASEAN Charter begins with ‘We The Peoples,’ signifying that the interests of the ASEAN people are paramount,” Jokowi stated.
The charter, established during the 13th ASEAN Summit in November 2007, serves as the foundational document of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Through the ASEAN Charter, the organization’s principles, rules, and values are formally documented, providing a legal framework for its operations.
The charter also outlines the objectives and aspirations of ASEAN and establishes the institutional structure necessary for their realization.
Source: ANTARA News
