JAKARTA: Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) encouraged ASEAN and Japan to implement a comprehensive strategic partnership as a capital to strengthen relations amid the current global uncertainty.
According to Jokowi, the 50 years of partnership between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japan had achieved many accomplishments in maintaining stability and peace, uniting the people, and driving regional economic growth, reported ANTARA news agency.
"In the future, the partnership must be realised in concrete cooperation for the sake of the society, such as infrastructure funding, energy transition, digital transformation, food security, and strengthening supply chains," the president said as quoted from a press release from the Presidential Secretariat received here on Sunday.
He conveyed the statement when opening the Summit for celebrating 50 Years of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation at The Okura Hotel, Tokyo on Sunday.
He disclosed that the ASEAN-Japan partnership must be future-oriented. ASEAN also hopes that Japan, as one of its most active partners, can continue to be a trusted partner in realising East Asia and the Indo-Pacific as a resilient region and a centre of comprehensive strategic partnership for economic growth.
"We are all responsible for maintaining regional peace, stability, and inclusiveness by strengthening the habit of dialogue and cooperation," Jokowi continued.
He also hopes that cooperation between the two parties will be based on a joint vision statement and implementation plan generated from this summit.
The results of this summit are also expected to support the vision of the ASEAN Community 2045.
"I hope this new generation of partnership can become an anchor for prosperity, peace, and stability in our region," he mentioned.
Also accompanying the President attending the Summit were Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, and the Indonesian Ambassador to Japan Heri Ahmadi. - Bernama-Antara