Jakarta –

The 55th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting (AEM) was held in Semarang, Central Java, from August 17 to 22, 2023. Director General of International Trade Negotiations at the Ministry of Commerce, Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, said more than 500 country delegates will attend the 20th WEA 55.

The delegation came from ASEAN member countries and their partner countries. For example, China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, India, Russia, United States.

“The number of delegates who attended was over 500 delegates. A total of all ASEAN member countries. Then an observer, a new ASEAN member country even if observer status is not full, namely our brother Timor Leste,” he told a press conference at Padma Hotel, Semarang, as quoted on Friday (17/8/2023).

“Call them PRC (China), Australia, New Zealand, India, Canada, United States, European Union, Britain and Russia. Delegations included officials all the way up to ministers,” he said. for follow-up.

According to him, it is a good opportunity for Indonesia and the people of Semarang to introduce their city to the world. This organizer is a continuation of the AEM retreat in Magelang, Central Java last March. The meeting was not attended by delegates other than ASEAN members.

According to him, the ministers will hold a meeting from August 19 to 22, 2023. Commerce Minister Zulkifli Hasan will chair the 55th MEA. Meanwhile, the meetings of the first and second days were still at the level of senior economic officials.

In this case, ASEAN economic ministers will hold meetings, either with countries in the same region or with partner countries.

Djatmiko explained that the meeting of ASEAN economic ministers was part of a series of Indonesian chairmanships within ASEAN. The last time Indonesia ran for ASEAN chairmanship was in 2013.

“So this is an important and precious moment. Not only for Indonesia, but also for the people of ASEAN. We have gone through difficult times over the past 3 years during the pandemic. This is not a easy challenge. And the theme of Indonesia ASEAN Presidency 2023 is ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth,” he explained.

He said that Indonesia called on ASEAN countries and the world to say that even though the ASEAN region is hit by geopolitical, economic and climatic turmoil, this region continues to grow well and dynamically. compared to other regions.

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