Jakarta, 17th January 2023: The Center for ASEAN Studies at LSPR Institute of Communication & Business called the Center for ASEAN Public Relations Studies (CAPRS) together with the ASEAN Public Relations Network (APRN) held the 15th ‘ASEAN Talks’ talk show to discuss Indonesia’s agenda as ASEAN Chairmanship in 2023. Indonesia accepted the ASEAN chairmanship relay from Cambodia at the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summit on November 13, 2022. Therefore, in 2023, Indonesia once again holds an important position in international forums as ASEAN chairman, previously Indonesia has been chairman in 1976, 1996, 2003 and 2011. Indonesia’s theme for ASEAN 2023 is ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth.
The Dean of the LSPR Business Faculty, Yuliana R. Prasetyawati, M.M., who is also the Head of LSPR CAPRS said that Indonesia’s momentum as Chair of ASEAN in 2023 needs to be maximally utilized by universities to escalate Indonesia’s role and leadership in ASEAN and increase awareness with the younger generation about ASEAN.
Therefore, the purpose of holding the 15th ASEAN Talks is to disseminate information and discuss Indonesia’s agenda as ASEAN Chairmanship in 2023 with the younger generation.
Dr. (H.C.) Prita Kemal Gani, MBA, MCIPR, APR, FIPR, Founder & CEO – LSPR Institute of Communication & Business
Dr. (H.C.) Prita Kemal Gani, MBA, MCIPR, APR, FIPR conveyed in her remarks the role of Public Relations in supporting Indonesia as the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2023. Public Relations plays a major role in disseminating a variety of information to build understanding and strengthen friendship and narrow the gaps among ASEAN members. Indonesia has also become the center of Public Relations in ASEAN because the secretariats of all Public Relations Associations in ASEAN are located at the LSPR Institute. Furthermore, Dr. Prita also advised LSPR students who attended the 15th ASEAN Talks to become a young generation who are proud to be part of the ASEAN Community.
H.E. Derry Aman, Indonesian Ambassador to ASEAN Session
Indonesian Ambassador to ASEAN, H.E. Derry Aman, who was present as the main speaker at the 15th ASEAN Talks, stated that Indonesia had successfully held the Indonesian G20 Presidency event in Bali 2022 and now Indonesia is increasingly asserting its strategic position and role on the international stage because Indonesia was once again entrusted with holding the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2023. Ambassador Derry also emphasized that as long as Indonesia is the ASEAN Chair, Indonesia will always generate momentum for ASEAN thus Indonesia is often regarded as the natural leader of ASEAN. The theme raised for Indonesia’s leadership as the ASEAN Chair is “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth”. ASEAN Matters ensures the unity and centrality of ASEAN. Indonesia seeks to strengthen ASEAN’s position as a stable, peaceful region. adaptive to all changes that occur internally and externally and are relevant internally for society, and externally for the Indo-Pacific region. Indonesia also seeks to consistently uphold international law, strengthen cooperation and not become a proxy for any power, so that ASEAN is able to become a region that is strong, inclusive, and has sustainable economic growth. So there will be a balance between political security and economic needs that must grow.
The main theme of ASEAN Matters is the strength to respond to challenges in the future, strengthening ASEAN Unity and ASEAN Centrality in the ASEAN region and in the Indo-Pacific. The main themes of the Epicentrum of Growth are food security, energy security, encouraging the strengthening of ASEAN’s health architecture in the post-pandemic period and maintaining financial stability.
H.E. Foster Gultom, Former Indonesian Ambassador to Kazakhstan and Senior Diplomat Session
H.E. Foster Gultom, Former Indonesian Ambassador to Kazakhstan and Senior Diplomat as the second guest speaker at this event also emphasized that the theme of the ASEAN Chair will continue the priorities and results of Indonesia’s leadership in the G20, namely food security, energy security, health architecture, and financial stability and if supported by the public relations, Indonesia’s leadership as the ASEAN Chair will be very successful. He also said that ASEAN is building an identity, based on the ASEAN motto, namely One Vision, One Identity, One Community. Furthermore, it is also emphasizing the strengthening of the ASEAN identity through the collaboration of various ASEAN programs in business, education, banking, youth and digital economy sectors.
The ASEAN Study Center at LSPR Institute of Communication & Business, called the Center for ASEAN Public Relations Studies (CAPRS), which was established on October 13, 2014, is a center for studies that produces various research, programs and publications that are in line with the three pillars of the ASEAN Community, namely politics and security, economic and socio-cultural, which is mainly implemented in Indonesian science and policy as well as to increase the nation’s competitiveness. Specifically, CAPRS as the established ASEAN Study Center is in line with Tri Dharma, namely conducting research and scientific studies on relations and cooperation in the ASEAN region; carry out community service in the form of outreach and dissemination of information about ASEAN through counseling, lectures, and dialogues to increase knowledge and awareness of all Indonesian people through ASEAN.
LSPR CAPRS organizes ASEAN Talks events periodically and raises the latest ASEAN themes. LSPR CAPRS also has cooperation and good relations with the China Mission to ASEAN to increase the knowledge and education of lecturers, staff and students through various seminars, workshops and master’s scholarship programs in China.
