ASEAN-EU Summit is scheduled to be held within the framework of 45 years of relations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU).

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo accompanied by First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo and a limited delegation, on Tuesday, left for Brussels, Belgium, to attend the ASEAN-EU Summit on December 14, 2022.

"I am along with the First Lady and also a limited delegation leaving for Brussels, Belgium, to attend the ASEAN-EU Summit in the framework of 45 years of relations between ASEAN and the European Union," the president told a press conference prior to departure, at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang district, Banten province.

President Joko Widodo emphasized that good relations must be continuously strengthened between ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and the European Union because the latter is one of the strategic trade partners for ASEAN.

The value of trade between ASEAN and the EU in 2021 reached 268.9 billion U.S. dollars, the third largest after the People's Republic of China and the United States.

"The foreign direct investment (FDI) from the European Union to ASEAN, which amounted to 26 billion U.S. dollars in 2021, is also the second largest foreign direct investment after China. This is why we continue to strengthen. We will continue to improve good relations between ASEAN and the European Union," the president said.

Specifically, the head of state also hopes that trade and investment relations between Indonesia and the European Union would also continue to increase.

"Of course our country, Indonesia, wants the trade with the European Union to increase, and investment from the European Union to Indonesia also continues to increase," he said.

The president also said that the visit to Belgium this time would take place in a short time, no more than 24 hours.

Indonesia received the handover of ASEAN chairmanship from Cambodia and will become the ASEAN Chair as of 2023. The handover of the chairmanship took place at the closing ceremony of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and other related summits at the Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel on Nov. 13, 2022.

Reporting by Indonesia Window