Jokowi Emphasizes ASEAN Unity, Centrality to President Marcos Jr

BOGOR, KOMPAS.com – Indonesia’s President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo emphasized the centrality and unity of ASEAN during the state visit of Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. at the Bogor Presidential Palace near Jakarta on Monday, Sept. 5.

“We also discuss regional cooperation on how to strengthen ASEAN and the implementation of the ‘ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific’. I emphasize the importance of strengthening ASEAN’s centrality and unity,” State News Antara quoted President Jokowi at a joint press conference at the Lotus Room in the Palace.

The visit by Marcos marked his first overseas trip as a president.

“Indonesia wants to ensure that ASEAN continues to be a locomotive for stability, peace, and prosperity in the region,” Jokowi said.

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Achmad Ibrahim Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. center left, and his wife Madame Louise Araneta Marcos, left, share a light moment with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, center right, and his wife Iriana during their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Bogor, Indonesia, Monday, Sept, 5, 2022.(AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, Pool)

He went on to add that the ASEAN should be able to overcome various challenges ahead and strengthen respect for the ASEAN Charter.

“To strengthen ASEAN’s centrality, I underline the importance of implementing the ‘ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific’ through concrete and inclusive cooperation. In this context, Indonesia will hold the Indo-Pacific Infrastructure Forum next year,” Jokowi said.

He also lauded the Philippines’ commitment to fully supporting Indonesia’s leadership in the ASEAN in 2023.

The two leaders also held a bilateral meeting and witnessed the exchange of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries in the fields of diplomacy, defense, and the creative economy.

Meanwhile, President Marcos said Indonesia was not only considered a neighboring or a friendly country but also a relative.

“We spoke about the difficulties that each country is going through, especially after the pandemic and this is why trade is such an important thing we talk about today,” President Marcos said.

Ardito Ramadhan Indonesia's President Joko Widodo (right) and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr (left) during a tree planting ceremony at the Bogor Presidential Palace near Jakarta. Also present is Indonesian First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo (2nd right) and Philippine First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos (2nd left).

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President Marcos also thanked Indonesia for its assistance in infrastructure programs and how to play a role in the changing geopolitical conditions.

“President Jokowi and I agreed to form a task force up to the technical level and not only at the political or diplomatic level so that the benefits can be maximized in the future, and I am sure that the cooperation between Indonesia and the Philippines will continue to be closely intertwined to improve and to maintain peace and regional development,” President Marcos said.

Also present during the bilateral meeting was Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno, Minister of State Secretariat Pratikno, Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines Agus Widjojo, and the Director General of Asia-Pacific and Africa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Abdul Kadir Jailani.

YouTube.com/Sekretariat Presiden Indonesia's President Joko Widodo (2nd left) is accompanied by some cabinet ministers during a bilateral meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and the delegation at Bogor Presidential Palace near Jakarta, Monday, September 5, 2022.

The two countries established diplomatic relations on Nov. 24, 1949. The total value of trade between the two countries in 2021 reached $9.5 billion, with $8.6 billion worth of exports and $1.2 billion of imports. This also means that Indonesia’s trade balance is in surplus at the level of $7.3 billion.

In 2020, about 4,408 Indonesian citizens lived in the Philippines, according to data from the Philippine Immigration Bureau.

Source: State News Antara