President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) engaged in an informal dialog with his Philippine counterpart Rodrigo Duterte after the ASEAN Leaders’ Retreat at the National Convention Center (NCC) in Vientiane, Laos, on Wednesday.
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“Now we need the resources to put this plan into action”, he added.
In three days of gathering, ASEAN leaders discussed the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, and renewed their commitments to effectively carrying out the vision to promote the ASEAN Community.
He further encouraged ASEAN leaders to establish a coordinating mechanism, under their direct leadership, to ensure the implementation of the SDGs in their respective countries.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith said that the summits were successful.
The ASEAN opened its 28th and 29th summits here on Tuesday. Aside from holding various ASEAN meetings, the country will hold activities during its chairmanship to mark this milestone. He called on other ASEAN leaders to follow suit and ratify the Paris Agreement at the earliest possible moment. The 16 countries account for over a quarter of the world’s economy, estimated to be more than United States dollars 75 trillion.
Underscoring that both the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda were founded on respect for human rights and democracy, Mr. Ban encouraged the gathered leaders to work for equality, inclusivity and accountability in their governments and societies.
Barack Obama defended his efforts to “rebalance” USA foreign policy towards Asia on Thursday even as he wound up the final visit of his presidency to the region with the South China Sea dispute still smouldering.
Concluding his remarks, Jokowi invited Obama to visit his old friends in the Indonesian capital after his term ended.
It ended with a simple message from President Duterte: “In 2017, we, the Filipinos, are proud to welcome you to 7,107 islands of beauty, wonder and fun that will make a year of memories last a lifetime”.
“Given the threat of climate change to all our nations, especially countries in this region, we agreed on importance of bringing the Paris Agreement into force as soon as possible”, he said. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon is also seated on the other side of President Duterte.
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Speaking at the launch, Mr. Ban highlighted that the United Nations team will focus its programmes on supporting the country in its efforts to help the most vulnerable: poor children and young people; women in remote rural areas; people from disadvantaged ethnic groups; and people with disabilities.
