What to expect from the ASEAN summit

From 5 to 7 September the 43rd summit of the South-East Asian countries will take place in Jakarta, Indonesia. Objective: to prepare the bloc for the challenges of the next 20 years.

The Chairmanship now handled by ASEAN, Indonesia, declared it had invited 27 global leaders and executive directors of international bodies to the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, scheduled from 5 to 7 September. The three day-meetings will bring together not only the leaders of the ASEAN member States, but also external partners of the bloc. Also global financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are invited to the dialogue. “We expect the participation of leaders from 27 countries and international organizations at the imminent summit. The Canadian Prime Minister [Justin Trudeau] is expected to attend the summit”, declared the General Director for ASEAN Cooperation at the Ministry Affair Sidharto Suryodipuro. Discussion on strengthening the capacity and the institutional effectiveness of the bloc in order to help the organization in meeting the challenges of the next 20 years will continue at the summit.Suryodipuro declares that Indonesia intends to lay the foundations of ASEAN cooperation to address the present and future challenges. The 43rd ASEAN summit will also see the handover of the regional group to Laos, which will lead the bloc through 2024. In parallel, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo will lead 12 meetings during the three-day forum, including the 18th East Asia summit. In addition to the group’s talk with dialogue partners, including the United States and India. Among others, the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Indian one Narendra Modi are expected to attend, despite the fact that a few days later he will host the G20 summit in New Delhi. India and ASEAN have also recently reported their will to upgrade their free trade agreement by 2025. Instead, it seems that Joe Biden, who has chosen to travel only between India and Vietnam during his Asian trip in September, will be absent. This decision will note please the Indonesian host. Jakarta is now seeking to enjoy the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). If the plan succeeds, Indonesia will become the third Asian country to join the organization, after South Korea and Japan.