Jakarta, 3 October 2011

The Governor of the Special Region of Jakarta, Dr Fauzi Bowo acknowledged the ASEAN Secretariat’s contribution as a valued partner of Jakarta and underscored the importance of the Secretariat’s strategic position in connecting between ASEAN Member States and Dialogue Partners and Jakarta as gateway of Indonesia.

The meeting between the ASEC team and the Governor and officials was held here last Friday.

Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for Community & Corporate Affairs, Bagas Hapsoro led the Secretariat delegation to the meeting, accompanied by his staff. They were greeted by the Governor, Deputy Governor Sukesti Martono, Assistant Secretary Dr Sylviana Murni and Head of Governmental Affairs, Dr Irmansyah.

Both Dr Fauzi and Mr Bagas discussed the current activities in those two institutions. They agreed there are some activities that will benefit for both the Secretariat and the Office of the Governor.

Mr Bagas reminded his counterpart, Dr Fauzi, who also attended the ASEAN Lecture on the inspiring remarks made by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in August. On 8 August this year, during the ASEAN Day celebrations, the President noted that over the years, ASEAN Secretariat has been a major factor in evolution of ASEAN. ASEC has been one of the most successful organisations in the world.

Earlier in January, the Governor had stated that “in chairing ASEAN, Indonesia is also giving huge leverage for Jakarta to foster its image as center of diplomacy”. He added that “we will do anything within our power to prove ourselves as an extraordinary host”.

Mr Bagas highlighted several points in his remarks.

He pointed out how the presence of international organisations, had brought about significant economic and political benefits to their host country.

“We should take a fresh look on how we can accommodate both ASEAN and non-ASEAN citizens who work to sustain the centrality of ASEAN”, said Mr Bagas, who further pointed out how the economy of Brussels is strongly benefiting from the European Union, while New York, Nairobi and Bangkok have drawn on the presence of the United Nations.

He added that to support the Indonesian Government’s mission to make Jakarta “the diplomatic capital city of the region”, there is an urgent need to expand the size of the ASEAN Secretariat’s premises.

Dr Fauzi responded that his office is still intensively discussing with other Indonesian line agencies, on the utilisation of the former South Jakarta mayor’s office for the ASEAN Secretariat.

Both officials were in agreement that the establishment of the ASEAN Community in 2015 requires a strengthened Secretariat, with better facilities to support its mission.

Dr Fauzi was pleased to attend and officially launch the ASEAN Rickshaw Run.

DSG Bagas also conveyed an invitation letter from the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr Surin Pitsuwan, to Dr Fauzi to officially launch the ASEAN Rickshaw Run on 16 October.

The organisers had held similar events in London over the past three years.

For the ASEAN Rickshaw Run, the organised have proposed kicking off the event from the ASEAN Secretariat. The international participants will then travel thousands kilometers to Malaysia and Thailand. Some 28 auto rickshaws will race in this debut rally in Southeast Asia.

Dr Fauzi was delighted to accept the invitation, and he also agreed to facilitate the event in Jakarta. This will be just one of the many activities, which his office will undertake with the ASEAN Secretariat.