Reporting from the State Secretariat, on the last day of the 37th ASEAN Summit series President Jokowi also attended a number of conferences virtually from the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java.
Quoting a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia on November 9, 2020, RCEP is a free trade agreement in the region involving 15 countries. The agreement aims to open market access, provide trade and investment facilities, and promote regional economic integration.
In the midst of efforts for economic recovery due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the signing of the RCEP agreement is expected to help increase business confidence while maintaining regional and global industrial and supply chain stability, as well as demonstrating regional support for an open, inclusive and rules-based multilateral trading system.
Also, speaking from Bandar Seri Begawan, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah said that despite the disruption caused by COVID-19, Vietnam had guided ASEAN to create a cohesive response to the pandemic.
He added that Brunei would continue to advance regional recovery and community development efforts.
"Even though ASEAN is a prosperous region with a growing economy and improved connectivity, the region has faced financial crises, energy shortages, natural disasters and climate change," he said.
"The formidable challenges to global activity posed by [the coronavirus] have also shown us that ASEAN must continue to strengthen ASEAN solidarity and centrality to overcome it."
The monarch expressed the leadership theme of Brunei 2021, "We Care, We Prepare, We Are Prosperous", reflecting the chair's three priority areas:
- Take care of people and each other's well-being
- Prepare for opportunities and challenges in the future
- Prosperous together as a united region
For information, the 37th ASEAN Summit series began on Thursday, November 12, 2020, then with Vietnam, which this year was elected Chair of ASEAN, acting as the host.
The series of summits discussed joint steps to prevent the wider health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic for the region. ASEAN heads of state or government also discussed economic development priorities in the region with partner countries to deal with the economic and social impacts of the pandemic.
Source : thescoop.co, inilah.com
