Indonesian First Lady introduces Labuan Bajo to ASEAN leaders’ spouses
Labuan Bajo, The Gulf Observer: Indonesian First Lady Iriana Widodo on Wednesday introduced some tourist attractions of Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, to ASEAN leaders’ spouses while hosting a tea banquet for them as part of the 42nd ASEAN Summit series.
According to a press statement issued by the Presidential Secretariat, the First Lady said that the spouses of ASEAN leaders were touched by Labuan Bajo’s natural beauty.
The closed event was held at Puncak Waringin, where, Iriana said, all the guests were happy to explore Labuan Bajo’s uniqueness.
She told them that Labuan Bajo is the gate to Komodo Island, the habitat of Indonesia’s endemic fauna, the Komodo dragons.
Komodo dragons are a species of large lizards whose weight can reach 160 kilograms and body length up to 3 meters, she explained.
“If you come too close, it can be dangerous, but if you want it, you can see later,” she said.
She also told her guests about the location of the ASEAN leaders’ spouses program, Puncak Waringin, which is usually used as a creative hub for East Nusa Tenggara creative economy actors.
“This place has been developed as a creative hub, a center for culture-based creative economy activities,” she said.
While closing her remarks, Iriana expressed the hope that the spouses of ASEAN leaders would enjoy their time in Labuan Bajo.
It is also hoped that the spouses of ASEAN leaders will carry out their role in maintaining ASEAN people-to-people relations and the advancement of women in Southeast Asia, she added.
“While in Labuan Bajo, I hope that all of us spouses that are present here can be at the forefront in strengthening relations between ASEAN people, (and working) for the advancement of women in ASEAN,” she said.
Earlier, at Komodo Airport, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said that the 42nd ASEAN Summit is an opportunity to promote Labuan Bajo to the world.
“This is a very good momentum for us to hold the ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo so that the world knows there is such a thing as Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia,” he said.