JAKARTA - Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono emphasized the importance of the East Asia Summit (EAS), but stressed that dialogue alone is not enough, because it must be able to generate trust that will bring cooperation for resilience.
Speaking at the 16th EAS Ministerial Meeting in Manila, Philippines, Foreign Minister Sugiono emphasized the importance of the East Asia Summit (EAS) in strengthening regional resilience amid the increasingly volatile global geopolitical situation.
Conflicts in various parts of the world, he said, now have a direct impact on the region. Tensions in strategic maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, also show that disruptions in one region can quickly spread to the global economy.
"For two decades, EAS has kept the dialogue space open between ASEAN and major countries. However, dialogue alone is not enough. Dialogue must build trust, trust must produce cooperation, and cooperation must strengthen resilience," said Foreign Minister Sugiono, launching the statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Friday (24/7).
Furthermore, Foreign Minister Sugiono emphasized that the EAS must remain committed to international law, including the UN Charter, UNCLOS 1982 and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC).
"Rules that are applied selectively will ultimately not protect anyone," he said.
In this forum, Indonesia also reiterated its attention to the situation in the Middle East, especially Palestine. Foreign Minister Sugiono called for a sustainable ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access, and a credible path to a just and sustainable peace. Indonesia affirms that the Palestinian people have the right to independence and self-determination.
Amid the increasing global rivalry, Foreign Minister Sugiono placed the ASEAN Center as a foundation so that the Indo-Pacific remains a space for dialogue and cooperation, not a confrontation arena.
"ASEAN centrality is not about partisanship. ASEAN centrality ensures that our region remains a platform for dialogue and cooperation," said Foreign Minister Sugiono.
He added that Indonesia supports the strengthening of the EAS to make it more relevant, responsive, and able to produce concrete cooperation in energy and food security, maritime cooperation, and combating transnational crime.
"The future of the Indo-Pacific will not be determined by rivalry, but by our ability to work together. The EAS must remain united in purpose, firm in principle, and effective in action," concluded Foreign Minister Sugiono.
It is known that EAS is a strategic forum at the leader level which was formed in 2005, and currently has 19 members, namely 11 ASEAN countries together with 8 ASEAN Dialogue Partner countries (Australia, People's Republic of China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia, and the United States). The 16th EAS Ministerial Meeting was held as part of the 59th AMM/PMC series under the ASEAN Chairmanship of the Philippines.
The 16th EAS Ministerial Meeting resulted in the Chair's Statement of the 16th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting, which highlighted the strategic dynamics of the region, the importance of respect for international law and the centrality of ASEAN, as well as strengthening cooperation to maintain peace, stability, and resilience of the region.
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