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Nur Yasmin
July
VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stressed that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) must not become a battleground of rivalry and a proxy of any country.
"We, in ASEAN, are committed to continuously bolstering unity and solidarity as well as strengthening ASEAN's centrality in maintaining peace and stability in the region," the president noted while delivering his remarks at the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) here on Friday.
Apart from highlighting the need for all parties to respect international law, Jokowi also hoped for cooperation and support from all ASEAN members and partners to use Southeast Asia's potential as an epicentrum of growth, in line with the theme of Indonesia's ASEAN chairmanship this year.
The president noted that the Southeast Asia region has potential in the form of its large productive-age population as well as abundant natural resources.
He remarked that ASEAN countries need understanding, wisdom, and also support from both developed and friendly nations to leave the zero-sum approach and adopt a win-win approach.
The president expressed optimism that the ASEAN member countries and partners present at the meeting would seek resolutions for various regional and global issues and not exacerbate them.
"There is a saying in Indonesia, namely menang tanpa ngasorake, which means we can become a winner without degrading others, without defeating others. For that, I invite us to be honorable winners," the president affirmed.
The series of the 56th AMM events are taking place on July 10-14.
The events comprise several meetings, including a meeting of the commission of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ), meeting with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), plenary session, and retreat session.
Furthermore, the agenda includes the ASEAN foreign ministers' meetings with ASEAN dialogue partners, namely India, New Zealand, Russia, Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States.
It also includes the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). (antaranews)
July
VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi emphasized that the Indo-Pacific needs to stay peaceful and stable and not be another battleground of powerful countries looking to influence the region.
At the 13th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers' Meeting during the 2023 Indonesia's ASEAN Chairmanship in Jakarta, Friday, Marsudi stated that the "Indo-Pacific is at a critical juncture."
EAS is a regional forum that involves 18 EAS countries, which are 10 ASEAN members, and Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, and the United States.
According to Marsudi, Indo-Pacific needs to stay a peaceful region, as it is home to 60 percent of the world's population and the biggest contributor to the global economy over the next three decades.
"But we are still very far from ensuring a conducive environment to unlock the full potential of our region. Mistrust and uncertainties remain," she remarked.
Hence, she expressed hope that the EAS forum would contribute to a safe, stable, and inclusive Indo-Pacific that also encourages collaboration with other regions.
In 2019, ASEAN approved the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP), which is an affirmation of the region's role to maintain peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.
However, AOIP does not mention the rivalry between the US and China that has become more real in the Indo-Pacific.
The Outlook, which was proposed by Indonesia, prioritizes open and inclusive dialogue and cooperation instead of competition and rivalry.
AOIP stipulates that the ASEAN will not side with any major country and will always maintain peace of the Indo-Pacific region.
The AOIP also became one of the main discussion agendas at the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, on May 9-11, 2023.
During its chairmanship this year, Indonesia seeks to strengthen the Association's role in facing challenges, responding to dynamics, and playing a central role in the region. (Antaranews)
July
VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi has stressed the need for the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) to enhance inclusive cooperation to address increasingly complex challenges.
"ASEAN and EU need to enhance inclusive collaboration," she said at the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference with the EU here on Thursday.
ASEAN and the EU have cooperated for almost half a century and become strategic partners since 2020, she noted.
This partnership, according to her, is being tested amid growing challenges.
She conveyed two important aspects for overcoming the challenges, with the first being the need for maintaining inclusive regional architecture.
ASEAN has invested heavily in building inclusive regional architecture. She expressed the hope that the EU would share the same view on the inclusive collaboration paradigm.
"This is the only way to maintain peace, stability, and prosperity," she added.
The second important aspect is to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation, Marsudi said.
Both ASEAN and the EU have enormous potential, and both are each other's third-largest trading partner, she highlighted.
Both also have integrated economies with 450 million consumers in the EU and 650 million consumers in ASEAN.
This potential, Marsudi said, should not be hindered by trade barrier policies such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the European Union Enforcement Regulation (EUER).
Therefore, both parties must find a joint solution through ASEAN-EU mechanisms, such as the Joint Working Group on Palm Oil.
In addition, ASEAN and the EU need to strengthen strategic partnership based on the principles of mutual respect and mutual benefit, Marsudi stressed.
The ASEAN-EU Foreign Ministers' Meeting also underlined the importance of resolving the South China Sea issue, concerns over the situation in Ukraine, and the Korean Peninsula.
The meeting also encouraged the completion of the ASEAN-EU Free Trade Agreement.
Meanwhile, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Joseph Borell Fontelles, acknowledged ASEAN's role as a key global player in the current century, especially amid ongoing global crises. (Antaranews)
July
VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi has stressed the need for the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) to enhance inclusive cooperation to address increasingly complex challenges.
"ASEAN and EU need to enhance inclusive collaboration," she said at the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference with the EU here on Thursday.
ASEAN and the EU have cooperated for almost half a century and become strategic partners since 2020, she noted.
This partnership, according to her, is being tested amid growing challenges.
She conveyed two important aspects for overcoming the challenges, with the first being the need for maintaining inclusive regional architecture.
ASEAN has invested heavily in building inclusive regional architecture. She expressed the hope that the EU would share the same view on the inclusive collaboration paradigm.
"This is the only way to maintain peace, stability, and prosperity," she added.
The second important aspect is to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation, Marsudi said.
Both ASEAN and the EU have enormous potential, and both are each other's third-largest trading partner, she highlighted.
Both also have integrated economies with 450 million consumers in the EU and 650 million consumers in ASEAN.
This potential, Marsudi said, should not be hindered by trade barrier policies such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the European Union Enforcement Regulation (EUER).
Therefore, both parties must find a joint solution through ASEAN-EU mechanisms, such as the Joint Working Group on Palm Oil.
In addition, ASEAN and the EU need to strengthen strategic partnership based on the principles of mutual respect and mutual benefit, Marsudi stressed.
The ASEAN-EU Foreign Ministers' Meeting also underlined the importance of resolving the South China Sea issue, concerns over the situation in Ukraine, and the Korean Peninsula.
The meeting also encouraged the completion of the ASEAN-EU Free Trade Agreement.
Meanwhile, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Joseph Borell Fontelles, acknowledged ASEAN's role as a key global player in the current century, especially amid ongoing global crises. (Antaranews)