Fond Farewell for Yudhoyono, Asean Big Brother

Jakarta Globe, Tito Summa Siahaan, May 12, 2014

Indonesia’s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono delivers a speech at his
 lecture event in Tokyo on December 13, 2013. He presided over his last Asean
Summit meeting this past weekend. (Reuters Photo/Toru Hanai)

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.

Related Article:

A Call for Peace as Asean Deals With Disputes