VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Government of the Republic of Indonesia (RI) hopes that countries members of the Southeast Asian Nations Association (ASEAN) have a shared views in dealing with economic problems, especially trade war between the United States (US) and the People's Republic of China (PRC), because after all war trade has an impact on the economy in the ASEAN region.

"We should show a joint attitude and position so that it does not harm ASEAN member countries," said the Deputy Foreign Minister (Indonesian Foreign Minister) A.M. Fachir answered reporters after attending the Limited Meeting, at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Wednesday (6/19) afternoon.

Earlier in his introduction to the limited meeting, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said that in the ASEAN Summit, in Bangkok, Thailand, June 22-23, he would invite ASEAN countries to unite in anticipation of a trade war between the United States and China, so that economic stability in ASEAN is maintained.

"It is very important that we invite ASEAN countries to unite," said President Jokowi.

The Deputy Foreign Minister acknowledged, that the current ASEAN Summit was, among others, colored by rivalry, whether it was rivalry in the region or included in trade wars. Therefore, the Deputy Foreign Minister considered, the Indonesian Government's attempt to pass ASEAN Indo-Pacific Outlook was very strategic.

Meanwhile, concerning the resolution of problems in Myanmar, Vice Minister A.M. Fachir said the government would encourage ASEAN to help Myanmar prepare to receive the repatriation. Therefore, the Government of Indonesia hopes that later they will be able to adopt or agree on what has been done, including receiving an assessment that has been carried out by ASEAN.

Plastic waste

Regarding the problem of plastic waste, Foreign Minister A.M. Fachir believes that later there will be a document that contains an agreement so that ASEAN countries have the same attitude, cooperation to mitigate plastic waste.

Indonesia itself, explained the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, assessing the urgency of plastic waste to be appointed to the ASEAN Summit because it saw that Indonesia was a country with large seas, and had also felt its impact. (setkab)