ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum Seeks to Foster Inclusive Collaborations in Asia-Pacific
ASEAN Member State leaders during the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum flagship event. | Photo: ASEAN Summit 2023 Media Center.
Collaboration is an integral part of sustainable development. For the ever-growing and immensely diverse ASEAN, it is the key to accelerate and advance various opportunities from the region and beyond. During the 43rd ASEAN Summit, Indonesia hosted the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum (AIPF) to discuss projects and collaboration in the Indo-Pacific.
The 43rd ASEAN Summit
The first ASEAN Summit was held in Bali, Indonesia, in 1976. This year, the summit was back for its 43rd session in Jakarta, Indonesia. From September 5 to 7, ASEAN Member States leaders and industry partners gathered to connect and explore further opportunities for the regions. Representatives from partner countries were also in attendance, including representatives from the United States, China, South Korea, and Japan.
During the three-day event, the ASEAN Summit 2023 delved into multiple discussions and forums regarding the region’s future. The ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum (AIPF) is the summit’s flagship event organized by Indonesia as a part of the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2023. It built on the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) initiative adopted by the Member State in 2019.
The ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum
ASEAN was among the fastest-growing regions in terms of economic growth in 2022. With a growing market and productive population, the region has abundant trade, investment, and other financial opportunities. The ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) saw the urgency for the Asia-Pacific countries to promote dialogues and cooperation as a closely integrated and interconnected region to achieve prosperity for all.
Building on that mission, the AIPF flagship event invited government, private sector leaders, international financial institutions, and international organizations to discuss projects and collaboration in the Indo-Pacific. Three main agendas were discussed in the forum: green infrastructure and resilient supply chains, sustainable and innovative financing, and digital transformation and creative economies. President Joko Widodo, the Chairman of ASEAN Summit 2023, shared that the meeting resulted in 93 collaborative projects worth USD 38.2 billion and 73 potential projects worth USD 17.8 billion.
“This reflects our commitment, which is to walk the talk. To build a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, ASEAN will continue to openly collaborate and forge inclusive cooperation while strengthening strategic trust in the Indo-Pacific,” he added.
Just and equitable collaborations
Beyond the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum flagship event, the 43rd ASEAN Summit also focused on addressing other challenges the region faces, including the conflict in Myanmar. The vision of making ASEAN an epicenter of growth is also one of the main topics explored at the summit. Through discussions like the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum, ASEAN leaders will hopefully continue striving for better collaborations and equitable improvements in all sectors without leaving anyone behind.
Editor: Nazalea Kusuma
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Kresentia Madina
Madina is the Assistant Manager for Program at Green Network Asia. She is an English major graduate from Universitas Indonesia with two
years of demonstrated experience in editorial and creative writing,
researching, editing, and creating content.
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