Jakarta. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Wednesday officially kicked off the 42nd ASEAN Summit by asking the question of what role would ASEAN play amidst major power rivalries and unpredictable global dynamics.

“Today, the global economy has yet to fully recover, power rivalries are mounting, and global dynamics have become even more unpredictable,” Jokowi said at the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, on Wednesday.

"That brings us to these questions: will ASEAN only be a spectator? Will ASEAN only stay silent? Will ASEAN be able to become the engine of peace and growth?” Jokowi asked the attending Southeast Asian leaders.

According to the bloc’s chair, ASEAN can play a central role in achieving peace and growth, as long as the region embraces unity. ASEAN has what it takes to become the epicentrum of growth, namely: economic growth that tops the global average, demographic dividend, and regional stability.

“Going forward, ASEAN must strengthen its economic integration, bolster its inclusive partnership, including on implementing the RCEP [free trade agreement], strengthening the health architecture, food and energy security, as well as financial stability,” Jokowi said.

"Let us work hard together to make ASEAN matter and an epicentrum of growth,” Jokowi said.

The RCEP —short for Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership— is a trade pact signed by the 10 ASEAN members, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. The agreement will eliminate up to 90 of the tariffs on goods traded between its signatories within 20 years of its entry into force. The RCEP came into force for Indonesia in Jan. 2023.

At a recent press conference, Chief Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto said that ASEAN’s economy would grow 4.7 percent in 2023. The Southeast Asian bloc’s economic growth is forecast to reach 5 percent next year.

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