The 43rd ASEAN Summit will soon occur in Jakarta on September 5-7, 2023. Having been mandated as Chair of ASEAN 2023, Indonesia has also successfully held the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo on May 10-11, 2023. The meeting, attended by leaders of countries in the Southeast Asian region, has resulted in several agreements that will positively impact various regional sectors and countries.
The following is the declaration of agreement agreed upon by the leaders of countries in the ASEAN region at the 42nd Summit in Labuan Bajo on May 10-11, 2023:
Protection of Migrant Workers and Their Family Members
Countries in the region prioritize the protection and rights of migrant workers trapped in crises and their family members. The policy also assists migrant workers in various sectors in crisis, especially female migrant workers.
Electric Vehicle Ecosystem Development
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has agreed to develop an electric vehicle ecosystem in the region. This agreement was made based on the commitment and effort of countries in the ASEAN region to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, accelerate the energy transition, and decarbonize the transportation sector in the region, including achieving a zero-emission target.
Protection of Migrant Fishermen
The ASEAN region is one of the world's largest producers and exporters of fish and seafood products and the largest country of origin for migrant fishermen. This underlies the importance of the Protection of Migrant Fishermen in the region. One of the points of the agreement is to facilitate safe and orderly migration for migrant fishermen, especially in the recruitment and placement process, safe return and reintegration, as well as access to justice and recovery.
Regional Payment Connectivity and Local Currency
This agreement adheres to the 2025 ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint, with the vision of creating a cohesively integrated ASEAN economy and supporting sustainable economic growth and resilience in the ASEAN region. This agreement aims to provide cross-border payment services that are faster, cheaper, safer, more transparent, and more inclusive in providing benefits in supporting economic growth in the region.
Combating Human Trafficking
Technological developments can have a negative impact, one of which is concern regarding human trafficking caused by misuse of technology. As Chair of ASEAN 2023, Indonesia seeks to strengthen the eradication of human trafficking in ASEAN. Eradication and prevention are carried out by collective regional handling efforts. Including reaffirming the legal instrument that has been stipulated, the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children.
OneHealth Initiative
The 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo also resulted in a declaration on the One Health Initiative. This agreement was made to increase and strengthen multi-sectoral collaboration and coordination among regional countries, including determining the main health threats to humans, animals, plants, and the environment causing outbreaks and possible pandemics.