VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) must preserve credibility if it wants to continue to maintain its unity and centrality, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi stressed on Tuesday.

"This means consistent implementation of the ASEAN Charter, including on decision-making processes in emergency situations," she said while delivering her opening remarks at the plenary session of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) here.

According to her, only with unity will ASEAN be able to answer and anticipate the challenges in the future.

She further emphasized the importance of ASEAN navigating regional dynamics.

"We need to send a clear message that ASEAN will never be a proxy in great powers' rivalry," she said, adding that all ASEAN dialogue partners must abide by the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).

ASEAN must be at the forefront of building an inclusive regional architecture that is based on peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, she emphasized.

To this end, ASEAN needs to expand inclusive engagement with other regions, including with the Pacific Islands Forum and the Indian Ocean Rim Association.

"Further, we need to move beyond confidence-building measures and take bold step to deter any potential conflicts and aggressively waging for peace through preventive diplomacy," the minister said.

"Only through this can ASEAN continue to matter and become the epicentrum of growth," she added.

The series of the 56th AMM is been attended by almost all ASEAN member countries and Timor Leste.

There are no representatives from Myanmar, which has not resolved its political crisis, joining the ASEAN meeting as the country has not sent its non-political representatives.  (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang will not attend diplomatic meetings with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta this week, said Wang Wenbin, the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Tuesday.

During a press conference in Beijing, Wenbin stated that China would be represented by Wang Yi, a senior diplomat who serves as the Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, as cited from an official transcript released by the ministry.

On behalf of Qin, Wang Yi is scheduled to attend the meetings with the foreign affairs ministers of ASEAN and ASEAN Plus Three on Thursday, July 13, as well as the East Asia Summit (EAS) and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) on Friday, July 14.

However, Wenbin did not disclose the reason behind Minister Qin's absence from the ASEAN meetings.

Qin, who has been in office since last year as the successor to Wang Yi, was last seen in public on June 25 in Beijing after meeting with officials from Sri Lanka, Russia, and Vietnam.

“China hopes to see more common understanding emerging from those meetings and contributing to regional peace, stability, and prosperity,” the spokesperson noted.

Wenbin stated that Beijing will work with regional countries to firmly support ASEAN unity and advance the purposes and principles of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia.

“China will work with regional countries to capitalize on the full entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and keep regional industrial and supply chains stable and smooth,” he stated.

The EAS constitutes a regional forum involving 18 countries: 10 ASEAN member states, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, and the United States.

Meanwhile, the ASEAN Plus Three is a meeting that brings together the representatives of ASEAN, China, Japan, and South Korea. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang will not attend diplomatic meetings with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta this week, said Wang Wenbin, the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Tuesday.

During a press conference in Beijing, Wenbin stated that China would be represented by Wang Yi, a senior diplomat who serves as the Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, as cited from an official transcript released by the ministry.

On behalf of Qin, Wang Yi is scheduled to attend the meetings with the foreign affairs ministers of ASEAN and ASEAN Plus Three on Thursday, July 13, as well as the East Asia Summit (EAS) and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) on Friday, July 14.

However, Wenbin did not disclose the reason behind Minister Qin's absence from the ASEAN meetings.

Qin, who has been in office since last year as the successor to Wang Yi, was last seen in public on June 25 in Beijing after meeting with officials from Sri Lanka, Russia, and Vietnam.

“China hopes to see more common understanding emerging from those meetings and contributing to regional peace, stability, and prosperity,” the spokesperson noted.

Wenbin stated that Beijing will work with regional countries to firmly support ASEAN unity and advance the purposes and principles of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia.

“China will work with regional countries to capitalize on the full entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and keep regional industrial and supply chains stable and smooth,” he stated.

The EAS constitutes a regional forum involving 18 countries: 10 ASEAN member states, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, and the United States.

Meanwhile, the ASEAN Plus Three is a meeting that brings together the representatives of ASEAN, China, Japan, and South Korea. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Australia's Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, stated that she will discuss the cooperation potential under the ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, especially in climate change and health resilience.

Wong noted in a press release received here on Tuesday that Australia is committed to working together with the region to realize the goals of all parties.

The minister also discussed the topic of ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP) with ASEAN ministers.

Indonesia is holding the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) on July 10-14, 2023, as part of its chairmanship this year, in which 29 countries, along with the ASEAN Secretariat and the EU, are participating in the event.

Australia views the ASEAN as being a stable, peaceful, and prosperous region, Wong remarked.

Her current visit to Indonesia was an opportunity to intensify Australia's partnership with Indonesia and reaffirm its support to Indonesia, as the chair of ASEAN this year.

"Indonesia is central to Australia's prosperity and our security," Wong affirmed.

Wong is also scheduled to attend the East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers' Meeting and attend the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) on Friday (July 14).

"I will explain Australia's vision for the region on how we can cooperate with ASEAN in responding to challenges together," she stated.

She will inaugurate a photo exhibition on the framework of 70 Years of Australian Scholarships in Indonesia and participate in a discussion with Indonesian youths.

Wong said she will visit a local health center to reaffirm cooperation between Australia and Indonesia in health reformation.

Earlier, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stated that Australia is one of the first strategic comprehensive partners of the ASEAN.

Next year, the ASEAN and Australia will celebrate their five-decade-long relations.

Indonesia also invited Australia's participation in flagship events under the AOIP.

Meanwhile, Indonesia's commitment to boosting bilateral relations with Australia is strong, especially in the economic sector, Marsudi stated. The Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) can be a new tool to increase economic partnerships. (Antaranews)