Jokowi Receives Outgoing ASEAN Secretary General Lim Jock Hoi

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo received in audience outgoing ASEAN secretary-general Dato Lim Jock Hoi at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Friday, Dec. 30.

Dato Lim – a senior diplomat from Brunei Darussalam – served as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) chief from 2018-2022.

The Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, who was also present at the meeting, said that Dato Lim's visit aimed at expressing his gratitude for Indonesia's support to ASEAN when he served as secretary general.

"The most apparent and most beneficial support is Indonesia's contribution to the construction of the new ASEAN Secretariat," said Retno.

The construction of the new building is expected to boost the performance of the ASEAN Secretariat, she added.

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"ASEAN meetings can be held at the ASEAN Secretariat Building in Jakarta," she said.

During the meeting, Dato Lim expressed confidence that Indonesia could become a good ASEAN chair in 2023, she added.

The theme of Indonesia’s ASEAN chairmanship "Epicentrum of Growth" was considered fitting as the focus of discussion.

"The ASEAN secretary general said that the economic development in each ASEAN country is quite promising. With such promising economic development, the theme of Indonesia's chairmanship Epicentrum of Growth is very appropriate to (be highlighted)," she said.

Retno said that this Friday, Dato Lim Jock Hoi officially ended his duties as ASEAN secretary general. In January 2023, he will return to Indonesia to hand over to the new secretary general, she added.

"Dato Lim Jock Hoi will leave Indonesia today to end his duties as ASEAN secretary general and will return in early January 2023 to hand over the responsibility to the new ASEAN secretary general from Cambodia," she said.

ASEAN secretary-general shall be appointed by the ASEAN Summit for a non-renewable term of office of five years and selected from among nationals of the regional bloc based on alphabetical rotation, according to its official website.