Jakarta Globe, Tito Summa Siahaan, May 12, 2014
Naypyidaw.
The 24th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Myanmar may be
focusing on pressing issues like the South China Sea disputes or the
implementation of Asean Economic Community, but regional leaders did not forget
to take time to bid a fond farewell to President Bambang Yudhoyono.
The summit
is Yudhoyono’s last, as the next one, which will also be held in Myanmar with
the addition of main dialogue partners, will be attended by Indonesia’s new
president who takes office in October.
“In the
past 10 years, [Yudhoyono] had not only provided Indonesia with democracy,
growth, stability and prosperity but also [contributed] to the strength of
Asean,” said U Thein Sein, Myanmar’s president and the summit chair.
“I’m
confident that you will be able to continue provide valuable advice on the
cause of Asean,” he added.
Malaysian
Prime Minister Najib Razak thanked Yudhoyono for his “untiring effort to build
the Asean community for the last 10 years.”
“We greatly
value his past and present contribution to Asean, and we hope he will continue
to do so in a different capacity.”
Philippine
President Benigno Aquino said Yudhoyono was “a big brother or uncle” for other
Asean member states and “a true friend” of the Philippines, while Singapore
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong attributed the robust and steady growth of
Indonesia to Yudhoyono’s leadership.
Yudhoyono
responded to his colleagues by saying Asean was “a caring and sharing
community,” and applauded the ability of its members to find a meeting point
for all their different national interests.
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