Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. ASEAN Director General of Cooperation, Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro says that the Senior Official Meeting of the 43rd ASEAN Summit discussed about strengthening and institutional capacity of ASEAN to be more prepared, Monday (9/4/2023). Sidharto says that strengthening ASEAN have been stressed several times by President Joko Widodo. He asked ASEAN to be more responsive to changes around the region and for its member to be more firm. Regarding the theme of “ASEAN Matters Epicentrum of Growth”, Sidharto says there are decisions surrounding food security and resilience, pushing the region as central growth and blue economy, and other several documents and all procedures included within. During the media conference at JCC Media Center, Sidharto was also asked about the issue of South China Sea who lately have become the hot topic for several members of ASEAN. He says procedurally the issue is not discussed in SOM, however there are chances that some members will voice their concern regarding the issue. Still with China, President Xi Jinping reportedly unable to attend to the Summit but Sidharto says that this is not something out of the ordinary, as it was the Premier of China who usually attend the Summit. On the other hand, Indonesia also does not really bothered with the absence of President Joe Biden. What is important is their constructive participation from all partners, including US. ASEAN stands in strategic place with strict competitions and various issues regarding geopolitical. It makes cooperation with state partners become critical as in the end the profit of ASEAN will not only benefit its members but also its partners.