Kalla Attends Celebration of 50th Anniversary of ASEAN

London, (Antara Sumbar) - Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla attended and delivered a speech at a reception to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) held at the Lancaster House, London, England.

Kalla met the invitation of Minister of Asia and Pacific of Britain Mark Field MP to attend the celebration.

Representative of Information, Social, and Cultural Affairs of Indonesia's Embassy in London Dethi Silvidah Gani informed Antara London on Friday that the reception celebrating the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN was opened by a speech from Field.

Field lauded the business sector in England that has been improving economic relations between Britain and the ASEAN, especially the assistance of the United Kingdom-ASEAN Business Council (UK ABC) in facilitating trade and investment in the region.

The ASEAN has currently become the sixth-largest economy in the world, with a growth rate of over five percent and is projected to be the fourth-largest economy by 2030.

In addition to economic cooperation, Britain has forged cooperation in the fields of defense, security, and intelligence, primarily with Malaysia and Singapore, through the Five Power Defense Agreements.

Moreover, Britain has had sound cooperation with Indonesia to enhance the values of democracy and assist in the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals. Recently, Britain had also played an active role in settling the Rohingya conflict in Myanmar.

Furthermore, Field conveyed that Brexit will offer an opportunity to Britain to seek new avenues in developing economies, including the ASEAN and outside the European Union.

Meanwhile, Kalla lauded the initiative of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to host the reception to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN in England. It demonstrated that the ASEAN held importance for Britain. In its five decades, the ASEAN has grown to become a highly strategic regional organization.

The ASEAN has been able to change the Southeast Asian region from being vulnerable to conflicts into a relatively peaceful and stable region. The rapid change has also had a positive impact on the economic growth in the Southeast Asian region.

Historically, Britain and the ASEAN have enjoyed sound cooperation in the trade sector. To this end, Kalla welcomed the initiative of the prime minister of England to appoint a Special Trade Envoy for the ASEAN.

The Brexit phenomenon can offer an opportunity to demonstrate the huge potential that the established partnership between Indonesia and Britain would likely have.

Currently, the ASEAN region is Britain's third-largest trading partner. Hence, Kalla said there would be several areas of potential to be explored through partnership between the UK and ASEAN in future.

Kalla urged the ASEAN London Committee to work closely with the governments and the UK ABC in order to ensure that the well-established partnership between the ASEAN and Britain could continue after the Brexit phenomenon for the benefit of ASEAN and the UK.

Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson was present at the reception attended by some 350 invitees comprising members of the ASEAN diplomatic circles, businessmen, and important figures for enhancing relations between Britain and the ASEAN member countries.

Jagad Gamelan Java, a group of gamelan players under the guidance of Indonesia's Embassy in London, gave a performance to welcome the guests while they entered the Lancaster House. (*)

Editor: Vicha Faradika