Jakarta, 5 September 2023 - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Iriana Jokowi welcome the arrival of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and wife, Louise Araneta-Marcos, at the Opening Ceremony of the 43rd ASEAN Summit at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) on Tuesday, 5 September 2023.
The President of the Philippines and wife alighted from their official vehicle and were then directed towards the JCC lobby in Senayan, where they were warmly received by President Jokowi and First Lady Iriana.
Something caught everyone's attention as the two guests arrived. The First Lady of the Philippines raised both her thumbs after seeing the tropical forest-themed welcoming area which was adorned with a row of ASEAN country flags.
Wearing red midi dress, Louise greeted President Jokowi and First Lady Iriana with a broad smile. Ferdinand Marcos and wife then shook hands with President Jokowi and First Lady Iriana, and took a photo together.
The first heads of state to arrive at the ASEAN Summit venue were Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, followed by Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet, Head of Thai Delegate Sarun Charoensuwan, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Subsequently, Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Timor-Leste's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, Cook Islands' Prime Minister Mark Brown, Bangladesh's President Mohammed Shahabuddin, and Brunei Darussalam's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah have also arrived.
At the Opening Ceremony of the 43rd ASEAN Summit, President Jokowi, accompanied by First Lady Iriana Jokowi, welcomed all ASEAN leaders and invited dignitaries.
The ASEAN anthem, "The ASEAN Ways," composed by Kittikhun Sodprasert, Sampow Triudom, and Payom Valaiphatchra, was then played, accompanied by the Gitabumi Voices choir conducted by the Purwa Caraka Orchestra.
The next event was a dance performance illustrating ASEAN unity, where they stand together as a center of growth, performed by Aemove Dancer.
President Joko Widodo then delivered the opening speech, marking the commencement of the 43rd ASEAN Summit and other related summits. (Jhon/TR).
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Director General of Public Information and Communications of the Ministry of Communications and Informatics – Usman Kansong (0816785320).
Get more information at http://asean2023.id, https://infopublik.id/kategori/asean-2023, and https://indonesia.go.id/kategori/ragam-asean-2023
Photo caption: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with wife Louise Araneta-Marcos upon arrival to attend the Opening Ceremony of the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Tuesday (5/9/2023). Photo: Screenshot of the Presidential Secretariat Youtube Channel