Holding the Chair of ASEAN 2023, Indonesia had the mandate to host the 42nd ASEAN Summit on May 9-11, 2023, in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). It was the fifth time that Indonesia has become the Chair of ASEAN. Previously, Indonesia had been the Chair of ASEAN in 1976, 1996, 2003, and 2011.
It is important to note that Indonesia played a significant role in the birth of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which was officially established on August 8, 1967, in Bangkok, Thailand. Not only being a member and one of the founders of ASEAN along with Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, and Malaysia, apparently Indonesia has an important role in coining the name "ASEAN." At that time, "ASEAN" was coined by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, Adam Malik.
ASEAN Summits in Indonesia
As one of the founders of ASEAN, Indonesia had the opportunity and was chosen to host the first ASEAN Summit held on February 23-24, 1976, in Bali. The meeting resulted in the ASEAN Harmony Declaration and the Friendship and Cooperation Agreement between ASEAN countries. The meeting also resulted in an agreement to form an ASEAN secretariat in Jakarta.
The 1st ASEAN Summit meeting was attended by the heads of five ASEAN member countries, namely Singaporean PM Lee Kuan Yew, Malaysian PM Datuk Hussein Onn, President Soeharto, Philippine President Marcos, and Muangthai PM Kukrit Pramoj.
On October 7-8, 2003, Indonesia hosted the 9th ASEAN Summit again in Bali. Ten ASEAN member countries attended this conference: the five founding countries, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia.
At that time, 10 leaders from each country in ASEAN signed the ASEAN Concord II Declaration. The signing is a follow-up to the Bali Concord I, which was expected to advance cooperation in the economic, political, social, cultural, and security fields and mechanisms to perfect ASEAN instruments.
Eight years later, Indonesia again hosted the 18th and 19th ASEAN Summits. The 18th ASEAN Summit took place successfully in Jakarta on May 7-8, 2011. The topic discussed was the agreement on implementing the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015.
The 19th ASEAN Summit was held in Bali on November 17-19, 2011. The meeting ratified the Bali Concord III, in which ASEAN agreed to realize peaceful, just, and prosperous regional and global interests. At that time, the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, also attended the 6th East Asia Summit, which was part of the 19th Summit series.
The 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta
After more than ten years, this year, Indonesia regained the trust of holding the ASEAN chairmanship and is hosting the 42nd and 43rd ASEAN Summits in 2023. After successfully holding the 42nd Summit in Labuan Bajo, the 43rd ASEAN Summit will be held in Jakarta on September 5-7, 2023.
The meeting will discuss important issues in ASEAN member countries and follow-up issues related to cooperation with countries outside the region.
The 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta will be attended by leaders of member countries and by dialogue partner countries, such as ASEAN +3, which consists of China, Japan, and South Korea. In addition, the 43rd ASEAN Summit will also be attended by ASEAN Plus CER (Closer Economic Relations), consisting of Australia and New Zealand.
Photo: Shutterstock/BUTENKOV ALEKSEI