ASEAN

In one exchange, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., asked the National Guard vet “how many members are in ASEAN?” referring to the alliance of Southeast Asian nations.

Lee praised Widodo’s vision and leadership, saying he raised ASEAN’s standing in international affairs and brought stability and progress to Indonesia and the entire region.

Laos, the bloc’s poorest nation, took over ASEAN’s rotating leadership from Indonesia this year and is pursuing a theme of enhancing connectivity and resilience.

The three-day summit, which is being hosted in Melbourne to mark 50 years since Australia became ASEAN’s first external partner, ends Wednesday.

The humanitarian crisis in Myanmar that hangs over the summit challenges ASEAN’s credibility as an organization, she said.