-offers a unique insider-perspective on the present and future relevance of ASEAN

A book launching ceremony about Does ASEAn Matter?: A View from Within, held last week at the Korea ASEAN Centre was timely ahead of the upcoming Korea-ASEAN 30th anniversary Special Summit, slated to be held on Nov. 25-27, Busan, Korea.

Written by the highly regarded diplomat Marty Natalegawa, former ambassador and foreign minister of Indonesia, this book offers a unique insider-perspective on the present and future relevance of ASEAN, said the Embassy of Indonesia through its press release.

Indonesia Amb. Umar Hadi(right) poses with Mr. Marty Natalegawa couple(center), former Indonesia Foreign Minister during the book launching ceremony, held at the Korea -ASEAN Center last week.

It is about ASEAN’s quest for security and prosperity in a region marked by complex dynamics of power, mentioned Indonesia Amb. Umar Hadi who was on hand to deliver his congratulatory remarks, adding namely the interplay of relations and interests among countries―large and small―which provide the settings within which ASEAN must deliver on its much-cited leadership and centrality in the region.

The book seeks to answer the following questions: How can ASEAN build upon its past contributions to the peace, security and prosperity of Southeast Asia, to the wider East Asia, the Asia-Pacific and the Indo-Pacific regions?, said the author Marty Natalegawa, former Indonesia Foreign Minister during his welcome remarks.

Natalegawa added it deals more fundamentally and a sine qua non, how can ASEAN continue to ensure that peace, security and prosperity prevail in Southeast Asia? And, equally central, how can ASEAN become more relevant to the peoples of ASEAN, such that its contributions can be genuinely felt in making better the lives of its citizens?

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