Indonesian Foreign Minister: ASEAN Has Collective Responsibility To Ensure Areas Remain Resilient, Cohesive And Proactive

JAKARTA - ASEAN has a collective responsibility to ensure a peaceful and stable Southeast Asian region, said Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono on Wednesday.

Speaking at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat (AMM Retreat) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the Indonesian Foreign Minister highlighted the situation in Myanmar, transnational crime to the South China Sea.

The Indonesian Foreign Minister said the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) remained a common reference reflecting ASEAN's collective commitment to support the settlement of the prolonged crisis in Myanmar.

"The immediate cessation of violence and the distribution of humanitarian aid must occur," said the Indonesian Foreign Minister, citing a statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thursday, July 10.

Regarding the South China Sea, the Indonesian Foreign Minister said that the progress in the Code of Conduct (CoC) in the South China Sea negotiations received a speech at the meeting, in line with the mandate at Foreign Minister ASEAN in 2023 through Guidelines for Accelerating the Early Conclusion of an Effective and Substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

"ASEAN needs to maintain its commitment to a substantive and effective CoC settlement, which is expected to help maintain maritime stability in the South China Sea," said the Indonesian Foreign Minister.

Furthermore, the Indonesian Foreign Minister said, in the midst of geopolitical uncertainty which was colored by crisis and escalation of conflicts in various parts of the world, ASEAN's preparedness to protect its citizens who were in conflict areas was important.

In this situation, the Indonesian Foreign Minister reiterated the importance of implementing the agreed instrument and framework, namely through Guidelines for the Division of Emergency Assistance by ASEAN Missions in Third Countries to Nationals of ASEAN Member Countries in Crisis Situations.

In this AMM treatment session, the Indonesian Foreign Minister also highlighted the threat of transnational crime in the Southeast Asia region, especially cases of online scams that are increasing and triggering related crimes, such as the Crime of Trafficking in Persons (TPPO) and narcotics trafficking.

"ASEAN has a collective responsibility to ensure the region remains resilient, cohesive and proactive in shaping a peaceful and stable region architecture," said Foreign Minister Sugiono.