Indonesia hands over ASEAN chairmanship to Laos as 43rd summit closes

JAKARTA — Indonesian President Joko Widodo handed over the ASEAN chairmanship to Lao PDR Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone as the 43rd ASEAN Summit closed on Thursday.

In accepting the chairmanship of the next ASEAN Summit, Siphandone said, “Lao PDR is honored to assume the ASEAN chairmanship in 2024 and we view the achievement under the ASEAN.”

The Lao PDR Prime Minister said those that will be discussed in next year’s summit are the further consolidation of the ASEAN community, enhancing ASEAN cooperation, strengthening of ASEAN unity and centrality, enhancing connectivities, advancing digital transformation and academic integration, and push for peace, stability and development.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. attended the closing ceremony along with leaders from the nine ASEAN states.

Marcos, who has already departed Indonesia, thanked the country and Jokowi for their hosting and stewardship of the summit.

"The 43rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits demonstrated that countries around the region are committed to regional cooperation and multilateralism, but remain challenged in promoting peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the region," he said in a statement.

"I thank our gracious host and I congratulate President Widodo for his very able stewardship as chair of ASEAN this year, and for making ASEAN as important as it ever has been.

"I also thank them for the very warm hospitality of the Philippine delegation, And I look forward to able leadership of Lao PDR when they host the ASEAN in 2025," he added. — BM, GMA Integrated News