Jakarta, 4 September 2023 – Guests attending the 43rd ASEAN Summit are greeted by a traditional dance from Banten Province upon their arrival at the VIP Terminal of the Soekarno-Hatta Airport of Tangerang in Banten.
Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Mark Brown, for example, was welcomed with the Walijamaliha dance performance upon his arrival at the Airport VVIP terminal. This dance describes the joy of Banten people in welcoming guests of honor.
Acting Governor of Banten Al Muktabar said on Monday, 4 September 2023, that the live performance of welcoming dance for the arriving guests constitutes an effort to display and showcase the richness of Indonesia’s culture and its hospitality in receiving guests to the world.
The 43rd ASEAN Summit is an opportunity to introduce Banten culture to the international community.
"Of course, we are grateful that through this international event, we can introduce Banten. We can share many things with the Heads of State/Government," he said.
When welcoming Prime Minister of Cook Islands, Al Muktabar also introduced sop buah, which is the iced fruit cocktail, that has been designated as intangible cultural heritage in Indonesia.
"The Prime Minister also liked the sop buah. When I accompanied him inside, we had a casual chat about fruit soup," he said.
Al Muktabar believes that all the hospitality extended to the guests of state guests would demonstrate Indonesia as a friendly country.
"Hosting the ASEAN Summit and visited by various countries, we can strengthen friendship between countries ," he said.
After Mark Brown, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste Xanana Gusmao, who arrived at the VVIP Terminal at Soekarno Hatta International Airport on Monday, 4 September 2023, at around 08:00 a.m. Western Indonesian Time (WIB), was also welcomed with a traditional dance.
Likewise, the Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Chính who also arrived at Soekarno Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, Banten, on Monday 4 September 2023 around 10:35 local time.
His arrival was welcomed by the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno and the Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Ta Van Thong. This time, a traditional Betawi dance, the was performed to welcome the Vietnamese delegates when they arrived at VVIP Terminal 3.
Following Pham Minh Chinh, the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet also arrived at Soekarno Hatta International Airport at around 11:30 local time,.
Twenty-two countries have been confirmed to attend the 43rd ASEAN Summit, namely the 11 ASEAN countries, including Timor-Leste and nine dialogue partner countries namely South Korea, Japan, India, China, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Russia and the United States.
Meanwhile, several heads of state from partner countries will attend the ASEAN Summit, including Vice President of the United States (US) Kamala Harris, Prime Minister of China Li Qiang, Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, and President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol. Meanwhile, President of Russia Vladimir Putin will be represented by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
In addition, two countries are invited, namely, Bangladesh and the Cooks Island, as Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and Chair of the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) respectively.
The IORA and PIF are invited as an effort of achieving one of the priorities of the Summit, namely realizing a peaceful, stable, prosperous, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
Meanwhile, nine International organizations including the United Nations (UN), the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Economic Forum will also participate in the event to focus on discussions on the economic issues.
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Get more information at http://asean2023.id, https://infopublik.id/kategori/asean-2023, and https://indonesia.go.id/kategori/ragam-asean-2023
Photo caption: Prime Minister of Viet Nam Pham Minh Chinh (right) accompanied by Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno (left) is greeted by a traditional dance when he arrives at the Soekarno Hatta Airport VVIP Terminal, Banten, Monday. 4 September 2023. 2023 ASEAN Summit Media Center/Raisan Al Farisi/aww.