JAKARTA, 23 March 2018 – Secretary-General of ASEAN Dato Lim Jock Hoi today paid a courtesy call on the President of the Republic of Indonesia, H.E. Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace.

SG Dato Lim expressed his appreciation to President Joko Widodo for the Indonesian Government’s generosity in supporting the construction of the new ASEAN Secretariat building which will be completed in early 2019. SG Dato Lim also reiterated his commitment to ensure that the ASEAN Secretariat is well-equipped and supported by sufficient manpower to continue assisting ASEAN Member States.

President Joko Widodo was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia Retno LP Marsudi and the Minister of the State Secretariat of Indonesia Pratikno. The President congratulated Dato Lim on his assumption as the Secretary-General of ASEAN and underscored the importance of ASEAN to be a modern and responsive organisation. In that regard, he said that the new building would allow the ASEAN Secretariat to fully function as the centre of ASEAN activities.

The President also highlighted the need for a strong ASEAN Secretariat to support ASEAN’s work in maintaining a peaceful and stable region, and to ensure ASEAN’s unity and centrality. This would include increasing ASEAN’s visibility among its peoples, conducting research and analysis, as well as providing policy recommendations to ASEAN Member States.

The call on the President is part of the Secretary-General’s courtesy calls on ASEAN Heads of States and Government since assuming office in January 2018.

View photos here.

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