ASEAN leaders are holding the group’s virtual summit, which is being attended by United States President Joe Biden.
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LUKI AULIA/NINA SUSILO
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BPMI SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN
The 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits were held virtually and attended by nine ASEAN leaders. In this summit, Myanmar was not invited except on a non-political level.
BANDAR SERIES BEGAWAN, TUESDAY — Amid increasing rivalries between the world's powers, ASEAN is expected to strengthen unity among member states and maintain its central role in helping create regional peace and prosperity.
ASEAN's central role in the region was raised as one the issues discussed at the opening of the three-day 38th and 39th ASEAN Summit on Tuesday (26/10/2021). Leaders of ASEAN countries, except of Myanmar, are attending the virtual meeting.
United States President Joe Biden also joined from Washington on Tuesday. His predecessor Donald Trump joined a previous meeting in Manila, the Philippines, in 2017.
In his speech, Biden expressed the US’ commitment to ASEAN's central role in the region. “The relationship between the US and ASEAN is vital to the future of our 1 billion people. Our partnership is essential to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, which has been the foundation of shared security and prosperity for many years,” he said.
The message was echoed by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who said that ASEAN unity as an institution needed to be continuously strengthened for it to become a true locomotive for regional stability and prosperity.
President Jokowi reminded ASEAN not to get carried away by jargon. "We must immediately strengthen the institution’s capacity and effectiveness," he said from Bogor Palace in West Java.
He urged the summit task force, which will start working next year on developing the ASEAN Vision post-2025, to discuss recommendations for a strengthened regional organization.
He hoped that the recommendations would be accepted by the end of 2022 because they were expected to start being implemented by 2023.
“Thus, ASEAN is ready to take off immediately to realize the new post-2025 vision. Indonesia has submitted a concept paper for discussions on strengthening ASEAN. I really appreciate the support of the ASEAN leaders for this Indonesian initiative," the President said.
AFP/JIM WATSON
US President Joe Biden
Cooperation
The White House issued a statement on Biden’s proposed cooperation to bring an end to the Covid-19 pandemic, tackle the climate crisis, promote economic growth and look to other regional issues. Biden was also said to have announced a planned allocation of US$102 million for expanded US-ASEAN strategic cooperation.
These funds would be allocated for health, climate, economic and education programs. Some US$40 million of it would be earmarked to help Covid-19 mitigation efforts and strengthen ASEAN's capacity to detect, prevent and respond to infectious diseases or the possible emergence of new pandemics in the future.
Approximately US$20.5 million would be allocated to address the climate crisis, US$20 million to support trade and innovation cooperation, US$17.5 million for education, and US$4 million offered for gender impartiality programs.
Regarding the pandemic, President Jokowi encouraged accelerated vaccination in the region. Currently, the full vaccination rate in the Southeast Asia region reportedly remains at 10 percent, which is below the world average.
"ASEAN must continue to procure vaccines for its members, fight unjust distribution of vaccines and its politicization, and voice the importance of access to vaccines for all," he said.
He pointed out the importance of strengthening what he called “regional health architecture” in dealing with pandemics in the future. He also saw urgency for the harmonization of public health emergency policies among ASEAN countries related to detection, mitigation and cross-border policies.
Myanmar
AFP/STR
People wait for detainees to be released from Insein Prison in Yangon on October 19, 2021, after authorities let out thousands of people jailed for protesting against a February coup that ousted the civilian government. (Photo by AFP)
The ongoing ASEAN Summit Meetings this time are not being attended by representatives from Myanmar.
The country opted against participation at all after ASEAN decided not to invite its military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, and only sent an invitation to senior Myanmar diplomat Chan Aye. ASEAN's stance is a strong rebuke to the country’s military junta, which toppled the civilian government in February.
Myanmar's foreign ministry said it would only participate in the meetings through official representation by the military junta's top leadership, government leaders, military council or ministerial-level leaders.
It was Myanmar that abandoned its rights. We are now in the situation of ASEAN minus one. It is not because of ASEAN, but because of Myanmar.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said that ASEAN had a slot for Myanmar but that the country chose not to join. "ASEAN’s decision to invite Myanmar’s representative from non-political circles has not been easy. However, like it or not, it must be done," she said.
According to her, President Jokowi was aware of the importance of respecting the non-intervention principle. "On the other hand, we must respect the principles of democracy, good governance, human rights and constitutional government," she said.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said ASEAN did not exclude Myanmar from the organization's framework. “It was Myanmar that abandoned its rights. We are now in the situation of ASEAN minus one. It is not because of ASEAN, but because of Myanmar," he said.
Biden has also expressed his concern over what is happening in Myanmar. (REUTERS/AFP/AP)
