VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations` (ASEAN`s) centrality in the development of the Indo-Pacific partnership concept is supported by several countries, Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi stated. The support was apparent after Indonesia discussed the Indo-Pacific concept with ASEAN member countries and consulted with ASEAN dialogue partners in the East Asia Summit held in Singapore on Sunday.

"During the summit, it was clear that almost all countries continue to lend support to the ASEAN`s centrality even in the development of the Indo-Pacific concept," Minister Marsudi noted after the commemoration of the ASEAN`s 51st Anniversary in Jakarta, Wednesday.

"The discussions around a new partnership concept surely take a lot of time, but at least Indonesia has presented its concept and perspective on the Indo-Pacific to ASEAN member countries. The concept will become the ASEAN`s, and the ASEAN will become the center for discussion around this," she explained.

Consultations on the Indo-Pacific concept have been conducted since last year, and Indonesia has laid emphasis on ensuring the concept can target economic and security cooperation. Issues revolving around the Indo-Pacific concept are strategic to Indonesia and the ASEAN, as they are geographically located in between the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

The Indonesian government offers a perspective on the Indo-Pacific region aimed at enhancing cooperation in maritime, connectivity, and integrated development agendas. Indonesia`s concept on the Indo-Pacific aims to increase the added value of the ASEAN`s existing partnership mechanism, especially to strengthen the East Asia Summit. ( ant )