Remarks by the President of the General Assembly,

Mr. Dennis Francis,

at the ASEAN Day Reception

[As Delivered]

10 October 2023

Your Excellency Pahala Mansury, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia,

Your Excellency Arrmanatha Nasir, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations and Chair of the ASEAN New York Committee,

Excellencies, friends,

 

It is an honour for me to join you in celebrating the 56th Anniversary of ASEAN.

 

I extend warmest congratulations to Indonesia on your successful chairmanship.

 

With more than 650 million people, ASEAN has grown to be a vibrant community and an undisputed economic powerhouse.

 

It is also an increasingly proactive piece of the multilateral puzzle.

 

Indeed, for more than five decades, ASEAN has been supporting efforts to advance social and sustainable economic growth and development, as well as to foster lasting peace and stability in the region and beyond.

 

We need ASEAN’s continued cohesion, strength and variable capacities now more than ever.

 

As we confront a myriad of intersecting global challenges, it is truly the time for “all hands on deck”.

 

ASEAN can – and must – be a leader in that regard.

 

We need your continued leadership:

  • to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.
  • to deliver ambition and action on climate change.
  • and to address the chronic challenges of poverty and inequality that are dividing our world and fostering tension and conflict.

 

Importantly, ASEAN has the full potential to act as a true catalyst and stronger link for impactful South-South and Triangular Cooperation – for the benefit of all citizens in the Global South.

 

Colleagues,

 

As I close, let me reemphasize that the challenges before us are indeed many.

 

But as I said before, we are in this together – and only together will we persevere. Solidarity must be the foundation of our actions.

 

On this point, I am grateful for the support I am receiving from all ASEAN Member States for my Presidency during the 78th session of the General Assembly.

 

I appreciate that this year, we welcome three secondees from ASEAN Member States to the OPGA. [Bram from Indonesia, Neung from Thailand, and – for the first time – Nhat from Viet Nam].

 

I am also glad that two of them are women, in line with my priority focus on women’s empowerment in each and every facet of the General Assembly – including my own office which should lead by example.

 

This support from ASEAN and its Member States is clear testimony to your unwavering commitment to the four priorities I have outlined: peace, progress, prosperity and sustainability for all. And as a matter of fact, it was quite interesting to hear the Minister speak of the Treaty of Bangkok.

 

I look forward to working with you to deliver on these goals throughout the remainder of the session.

 

With this, I once again congratulate ASEAN on your anniversary and wish you all a happy ASEAN Day celebration.

 

I thank you.