VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOInews, Jakarta: Indonesia hopes Australia can become ASEAN's main partner in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The statement was made by Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi at the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) meeting with Australia in Jakarta, Thursday (07/13/2023).

Foreign Minister Retno said Australia could be a positive force in the region by supporting ASEAN centrality. She underlined Australia's status as one of the four ASEAN partners with the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

"We have great expectations for Australia to become a positive force in the region and support ASEAN centrality in shaping regional dynamics," Retno said.

Foreign Minister Retno said that there are two areas of cooperation that can be focused on.

First, on the issue of peace and stability in the region. Retno said that Australia and ASEAN can serve as an anchor of stability in the Indo-Pacific.

"We need to build an inclusive regional architecture, where all parties feel safe and contribute to regional prosperity. Australia can be a true partner of ASEAN and become an anchor of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific," Retno said.

Second, Australia is expected to become a development partner in the Pacific region. In this regard, Foreign Minister Retno said that the Pacific region is an inseparable part of the Indo-Pacific. For this reason, concrete cooperation between ASEAN and Pacific countries is needed, including in the fields of climate action and disaster risk reduction, food security, and blue economy.

Foreign Minister Retno also hoped that Australia's support for cooperation between the ASEAN Secretariat and the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) will begin this year.

At this meeting, Foreign Ministers of ASEAN countries expected an increase in concrete cooperation with Australia in a number of areas, namely trade, connectivity, health, education, transportation, climate change, and sustainable energy.

They also hope Australia can become an anchor of economic growth in the Southern part of the Indo-Pacific. In addition, ASEAN countries also expect Australia to support regional stability and peace, including by supporting ASEAN's common position on the South China Sea.

Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong affirmed support for ASEAN's centrality in maintaining stability and realizing regional prosperity, through the concrete implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). In addition, Australia has also formulated a Strategy for Southeast Asia 2040 to enhance economic cooperation with ASEAN.

The meeting agreed on a Concept Note for the ASEAN-Australia Commemorative Summit. The ASEAN-Australia Commemorative Summit will be held next year. (VOI)

VOINews, Jakarta – Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi Indonesia is pushing for strengthened cooperation in the field of food security between ASEAN and India during the meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers with the Indian Foreign Minister in Jakarta (13/7).

"The growing population of ASEAN and India depends on food security. Therefore, we need to make more efforts to ensure the availability, accessibility, and affordability of food during crises," said Minister Retno.

"Such cooperation needs to focus on building a sustainable food supply chain through trade, dialogue, and transparent government policies," added Retno.

Indonesia also encourages long-term collaboration in agricultural technology and research centers to enhance local food production and benefit small-scale farmers.

Indonesia will propose a Joint Statement of ASEAN Leaders on Strengthening Cooperation in Food Security during Crises to be adopted at the upcoming ASEAN-India Summit.

"We all have a responsibility to maintain peace and security in the Indo-Pacific. India and ASEAN can be part of these efforts. Every minilateral group should support these endeavors," said Minister Retno.

In this context, ASEAN will invite IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association) and PIF (Pacific Islands Forum) to the East Asia Summit (EAS) to promote a more inclusive regional architecture in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar expressed support for ASEAN's centrality, the implementation of the AOIP, and the plan to hold the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum in Jakarta in September.

The relationship between ASEAN and India has become a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership since November 2022. The ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership Action Plan 2021-2025 has achieved around 86% of its targets. The meeting adopted the Annex to the Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-India Partnership for Peace, Progress, and Shared Prosperity (2021-2025). (VOI)

VOINews, Jakarta – Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi Indonesia is pushing for strengthened cooperation in the field of food security between ASEAN and India during the meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers with the Indian Foreign Minister in Jakarta (13/7).

"The growing population of ASEAN and India depends on food security. Therefore, we need to make more efforts to ensure the availability, accessibility, and affordability of food during crises," said Minister Retno.

"Such cooperation needs to focus on building a sustainable food supply chain through trade, dialogue, and transparent government policies," added Retno.

Indonesia also encourages long-term collaboration in agricultural technology and research centers to enhance local food production and benefit small-scale farmers.

Indonesia will propose a Joint Statement of ASEAN Leaders on Strengthening Cooperation in Food Security during Crises to be adopted at the upcoming ASEAN-India Summit.

"We all have a responsibility to maintain peace and security in the Indo-Pacific. India and ASEAN can be part of these efforts. Every minilateral group should support these endeavors," said Minister Retno.

In this context, ASEAN will invite IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association) and PIF (Pacific Islands Forum) to the East Asia Summit (EAS) to promote a more inclusive regional architecture in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar expressed support for ASEAN's centrality, the implementation of the AOIP, and the plan to hold the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum in Jakarta in September.

The relationship between ASEAN and India has become a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership since November 2022. The ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership Action Plan 2021-2025 has achieved around 86% of its targets. The meeting adopted the Annex to the Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-India Partnership for Peace, Progress, and Shared Prosperity (2021-2025). (VOI)

VOINews, Jakarta - Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi urged ASEAN and New Zealand to strengthen cooperation in maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific, including the Pacific region. 

The statement was made by Foreign Minister Retno during the ASEAN - New Zealand Post Ministerial Meeting on the sidelines of the 56 ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, on Thursday (13/7) in Jakarta.

In the meeting, Foreign Minister Retno welcomed the signing of the ASEAN - Australia - New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) amendment.

Regarding stability in the Pacific, Foreign Minister Retno stated that the stability of the Pacific region is an integral part of stability in the Indo-Pacific. She stated that ASEAN must assist the Pacific countries in facing various development challenges, including climate change and maritime issues.

Therefore, ASEAN and New Zealand must strengthen cooperation to uphold strategic trust in the region and uphold international law, including the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"We hope that New Zealand will continue to support the centrality of ASEAN in shaping the regional order and promoting collaboration in the Pacific," Foreign Minister Retno said.

"We must ensure concrete cooperation that is in line with the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)," she added.

Minister Retno also expects New Zealand to play a role in bridging ASEAN cooperation in the Pacific, including on the plan for cooperation between the secretariats of ASEAN and the Pacific Island Forum (PIF).

During the meeting, ASEAN countries emphasized the strengthening of cooperation in the fields of economy, maritime affairs, and marine issues, fulfilling commitments to the Paris Agreement, counter-terrorism cooperation, and combating human trafficking. They also expect New Zealand to support ASEAN's common position on the South China Sea.

The ASEAN-New Zealand Joint Statement on Cooperation on the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific was adopted by the ASEAN-New Zealand Foreign Ministers in the meeting, highlighting the importance of inclusive collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region. (VOI/Andy)