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New ASEAN Secretariat Building Inaugurated on ASEAN Day

New ASEAN Secretariat Building Inaugurated on ASEAN Day

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Thursday called for ASEAN unity against the backdrop of increasing rivalry among major powers in the regions as Indonesia inaugurated the new building for ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta, The Jakarta Post reported.

The inauguration of the building took place during ASEAN Day, which falls every August 8 to commemorate the establishment of ASEAN by its five founding members – Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines in 1967. Jokowi said ASEAN must be able to maintain its relevance as regional grouping in the face of global challenges.

Inauguration of the new ASEAN Secretariat Building in Jakarta, Indonesia, August 8, 2019. Image: Reuters/Willy Kurniawan
Inauguration of the new ASEAN Secretariat Building in Jakarta, Indonesia, August 8, 2019. Image: Reuters/Willy Kurniawan

 

According to Antara, the building, which is located in Sisingamangaraja Street, comprises two 16-storey towers connected by a 41.3 meter-long overpass.

"Indonesia has endeavored to facilitate the ASEAN to work in a fast, solid, effective, and efficient manner. Based on that thought, we construct this building," Jokowi remarked in his inauguration speech at the main hall of the new ASEAN Secretariat building.

A three-dimensional model of the would-be Asean's expanded building in Jakarta. Image: ST/Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja
A three-dimensional model of the would-be Asean's expanded building in Jakarta. Image: ST/Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja

 

The president symbolically handed over the building's key to ASEAN Secretariat General Lim Jock Hoi to mark the inauguration of the new building.

Thursday’s event included the creation of time capsule containing the hopes and visions of ASEAN member states for the future -- which will be opened in 2042 on what will be the 75th anniversary of the signing of the ASEAN Declaration.

 

Indah Gilang Pusparani

Indah is a researcher at Badan Perencanaan Pembangunan Penelitian dan Pengembangan Daerah Kota Cirebon (Regional Development Planning and Research Agency of Cirebon Municipality). She covers More international relations, tourism, and startups in Southeast Asia region and beyond. Indah graduated from MSc Development Administration and Planning from University College London, United Kingdom in 2015. She finished bachelor degree from International Relations from University of Indonesia in 2014, with two exchange programs in Political Science at National University of Singapore and New Media in Journalism at Ball State University, USA. She was awarded Diplomacy Award at Harvard World Model United Nations and named as Indonesian Gifted Researcher by Australian National University. She is Researcher at Regional Planning Board in Cirebon, West Java. She previously worked as Editor in Bening Communication, the Commonwealth Parliament Association UK, and diplomacy consulting firm Best Delegate LLC in USA. Less
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