Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken are participating in the foreign ministers' meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Indonesia's capital Jakarta, both wearing traditional Indonesian shirts, a Sputnik correspondent reported Friday.
The ministers traditionally arrived at the meeting wearing national shirts. With Indonesia chairing ASEAN and EAS this year, the organizers have chosen batik shirts made of hand-dyed fabric with intricate patterns.
Lavrov and Blinken are sitting almost next to each other in the meeting hall, to the right and left of the Philippine representative, the correspondent reported.
ASEAN is the association of 10 Southeast Asian states, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, aimed at fostering both political and economic cooperation among its members.
EAS is a forum for dialogue among leaders of the Asia-Pacific region on a wide range of strategic, political and economic issues. The next East Asia Summit will take place in Jakarta in September. Meetings in this format are held annually in conjunction with high-level ASEAN events. Russian and US leaders have also been invited to the forum since 2011.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has encouraged ASEAN and New Zealand to strengthen cooperation in maintaining Indo-Pacific stability, including the Pacific region.
At the ASEAN - New Zealand Post Ministerial Meeting, on the sidelines of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Jakarta on Thursday, Foreign Minister Retno said New Zealand was an important ASEAN partner in the Pacific region.
Welcoming the signing of the ASEAN - Australia - New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) amendment, Foreign Minister Retno acknowledged the important role of New Zealand as a liaison for ASEAN in the Pacific region.
Foreign Minister Retno further said that the stability of the Pacific region is an integral part with stability in the Indo-Pacific. For this reason, he continued, ASEAN and New Zealand must strengthen cooperation to maintain strategic trust in the region and uphold international law, including principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
"We hope New Zealand will continue to support ASEAN's centrality in shaping the regional order and promoting collaboration in the Pacific," said Foreign Minister Retno in a statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thursday, July 13.
Regarding the issue of development in the Pacific, Foreign Minister Retno said, ASEAN must assist Pacific countries in facing various development challenges, including climate change and marine problems.
"We must produce concrete cooperation in line with ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)," explained Foreign Minister Retno.
Foreign Minister Retno also hopes for New Zealand's role in bridging ASEAN cooperation in the Pacific, including plans for cooperation between secretariats between ASEAN and the Pacific Island Forum (PIF).
Jakarta, Indonesia - "The Indo-Pacific is not a battleground. This region must remain stable," said Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi during the opening of the East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Jakarta on Friday (14/7).
Foreign Minister Retno stated that people have high expectations for the EAS as the only forum that involves all key players in the Indo-Pacific region. Currently, the Indo-Pacific is at a crucial moment.
This region will be the largest contributor to global economic growth in the next 30 years. Significant developments in technology, medicine, and renewable energy are happening every day.
"However, we are still very far from ensuring a conducive environment to unlock the full potential of our region. Mistrust and uncertainties still exist. Some say the Indo-Pacific is experiencing symptoms of “a Cold War in Hot Places,” said the Foreign Minister.
In addition to being a net contributor to economic growth, the Indo-Pacific must also be a net contributor to peace and spread the paradigm of collaboration to other regions. The East Asia Summit (EAS) must contribute to realizing the collective aspirations of a peaceful, stable, and inclusive region.
"Imagine the EAS as a train, and our commitment to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) and the Bali Principles as the railways. We must make our paths cross and not block each other’s ways,” said the Foreign Minister.
All parties must work together to bridge differences, foster trust, and build an inclusive regional architecture. The existing differences should not be divisive but rather enrich collective efforts and become sources of strength.
The Foreign Minister cited the philosophy of 'Bhinneka Tunggal Ika,' which means unity in diversity, as a principle that emphasizes how harmony can be achieved through embracing differences to realize common goals. This spirit needs to be embraced by all EAS participants in their discussions and by listening to each other without prejudice.
"We are in this train of EAS. Everyone is welcome aboard," said the Foreign Minister.
Meanwhile, in Indonesia's national statement, the Foreign Minister emphasized two points. First, appreciation for the support and respect for ASEAN's centrality. A united ASEAN (ASEAN that matters) will bring benefits not only to the region but also to the world.
Second, a call to EAS member states to ensure the success of the upcoming East Asia Summit in September. The Foreign Minister urged all parties to "build bridges" and bring together existing differences.
During the meeting, the ASEAN Secretary-General highlighted that cooperation within the EAS framework continues to strengthen, particularly in areas such as green energy, environment, education, health, trade, food security, maritime security, and marine conservation.
The meeting discussed the dynamics in the region and globally, including efforts to promote peace in Ukraine, respect for international law in the South China Sea, stability on the Korean Peninsula, and the resolution of the Myanmar issue.
The meeting emphasized the crucial role of the EAS as a platform for cooperation and dialogue in promoting stability, peace, and prosperity in the region. Broad support was given to ASEAN's centrality, the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, and the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus in addressing the Myanmar issue.
The meeting agreed upon the East Asia Summit Plan of Action 2024-2028, which identifies practical areas of cooperation and supports the mainstreaming and implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific within the EAS framework.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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