World leaders today entered into their final day of discussion at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) hosted in Indonesia against a backdrop of simmering conflicts.
An undercurrent of tension has accompanied the talks on issues ranging from trade and technology, to China’s increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea, the Myanmar junta’s refusal to cooperate with ASEAN for a peace plan and suspicion over North Korea’s plans to supply weapons to Russia for Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the world risks a great fracture of its economic and financial systems, calling on leaders at the summit to find peaceful and inclusive solutions to the challenges faced by the world.
Ealier, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it was essential to build a post-COVID rules-based world order and make collective efforts to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific, region.
On Wednesday, Indonesian President and host of ASEAN, Joko Widodo said the summit should be seen as a forum for to strengthen cooperation and not sharpen rivalries.
