The elaborate series of events comprising the 43rd ASEAN High-Level Conference (KTT) in Jakarta commenced its unfolding on the 29th of August in the year 2023. The zenith of this grand gathering, the ASEAN Summit 2023, is poised to grace the calendar from the 5th to the 7th of September.
The intricate orchestration of the 43rd ASEAN Summit, under the stewardship of Indonesia, was meticulously elucidated by the Foreign Minister of Indonesia, Retno Marsudi. She expounded that during this summit, scheduled from the 5th to the 7th of September 2023, a remarkable 12 meetings will be convened under the sagacious leadership of President Joko Widodo, affectionately known as Jokowi.
On the inaugural day, the 5th of September, the summit itinerary unfurls with two principal rendezvous, namely the 43rd ASEAN Summit [Plenary Session] and the 43rd ASEAN Summit [Retreat Session]. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi illuminated these significant occurrences during a rendezvous with the press at the Media Gathering, an event held in the preceding week.
Concurrently, on this eventful day, President Jokowi is slated to engage in bilateral meetings with several esteemed partner nations. The day is further embellished by the inauguration of the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum (AIPF), its maiden day of deliberations.
The tapestry of events continues with six prominent meetings scheduled for the 6th of September 2023. These encompass the 26th ASEAN-China Summit, the 24th ASEAN-Republic of Korea (ROK) Summit, the 26th ASEAN-Japan Summit, the 11th ASEAN-U.S. Summit, the ASEAN-Canada Summit, and the 26th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit, where ASEAN converges with Japan, ROK, and China. Notably, the second day of the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum [AIPF] also finds its place on this day’s agenda. Additionally, if circumstances permit, interstitial bilateral meetings may be interwoven within the tapestry of the 43rd ASEAN KTT on the 6th of September 2023, as elucidated by Minister Retno.
The mosaic culminates with four pivotal meetings set for the 7th of September 2023, including the 20th ASEAN-India Summit, the 3rd ASEAN-Australia Summit, the 13th ASEAN-UN Summit, and the 18th East Asia Summit. This day is further adorned by a cascade of bilateral meetings.
The symphony of events crescendos with a joint press conference featuring President Jokowi in the late afternoon. The exchange of bilateral dialogues shall persist, cascading into the morning and afternoon of the 8th of September.
As twilight descends, President Jokowi shall take wing, journeying directly to India to grace the KTT G20 with his presence.
To date, it has been ascertained that a grand assembly of 22 nations and 9 international organizations shall grace the proceedings, with an assemblage of 11 ASEAN nations, inclusive of Timor-Leste. Additionally, 13 bilateral meetings are scheduled to take place.
Minister for Economic Affairs Coordination, Airlangga Hartarto, has illuminated a critical development. He unveiled the unanimous accord among the Ministers, culminating in the presentation of four pioneering Indonesian initiative documents. These documents are poised for a comprehensive discourse, further deliberation, and endorsement by the distinguished Heads of State, in the hallowed precincts of the 43rd ASEAN KTT.
Minister Airlangga articulated, “The esteemed Ministers have united in unwavering support for the four visionary Indonesian initiative documents, which are poised to be embraced and adopted by the distinguished Heads of State at the forthcoming 43rd KTT.”
The four visionary documents are delineated as follows:
- The Leader’s Declaration on Strengthening Food Security and Nutrition in Response to Crisis.
- The Leader’s Statement for the Development of the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA).
- The ASEAN Leader’s Declaration on ASEAN as the Epicenter of Growth.
- The ASEAN Blue Economy Framework.
These documents represent a significant stride towards fostering cooperation and charting the course for a brighter, more integrated future within the ASEAN community.
