ASIATODAY.ID, LAOS – Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi asked China to participate in maintaining peace, stability and prosperity in the region. This was conveyed by Retno at the ASEAN-China Post-Ministerial Conference (PMC) meeting in Vientiane, Laos, 26 July 2024.
Retno said that the ASEAN-China partnership has been and continues to grow, providing mutual benefits for more than three decades. Last year, trade figures reached almost 20% of total ASEAN trade and a third of total investment entering Southeast Asia.
Retno also quoted the “Southeast Asia Survey Report” from ISEAS Yusof Ishak for 2024, which stated the perception of Southeast Asian people towards China as the most influential economic partner and as a strategic political force in the region.
In her statement, Retno raised three things that could contribute to the region.
First, the importance of maintaining peace and stability.
Retno expressed her appreciation to China for using Bandung Spirit as a reference. This spirit is very much needed today, especially in a world that is currently divided. Suspicion and mutual distrust are the main factors that make efforts to build mutual understanding difficult.
“Therefore, our joint commitment to maintaining dialogue to maintain regional peace and stability is very important,” added Retno.
“ASEAN has been a positive contributor to regional peace and stability, and shared prosperity. “Therefore, I invite China to continue to support ASEAN centrality and support various ASEAN mechanisms,” added Retno.
Second, related to the South China Sea.
The South China Sea is the lifeblood of the region. However, issues in the South China Sea continue to be a stumbling block in ASEAN-China relations. The ASEAN Foreign Ministers underlined the importance of implementing the Declaration of Conduct (DOC) and finalizing the Code of Conduct (COC) as soon as possible.
“Indonesia’s position is consistent, namely that all claims must be resolved peacefully through direct dialogue between interested parties,” stressed Retno.
Third, related to the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).
Last year, China expressed its strong commitment to support AOIP, including through a commitment to 25 concrete projects worth US$ 28.75 billion which was presented during the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum (AIPF).
“ASEAN is ready to continue working with China to ensure the realization of all these concrete projects, and develop various other collaborations in the four priority pillars of AOIP,” concluded Retno.
The ASEAN-China PMC meeting adopted a joint statement on increasing cooperation on humanitarian mine action. (AT Network)
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