ASEAN-IORA-PIF MoU Sign, Foreign Minister Retno: Prevent This Area From Becoming A Competition Arena For Big Countries

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi during a meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers (AMM) in Jakarta on Monday, September 4, 2023. (Indonesian Foreign Ministry-Abi)

JAKARTA - Indonesian Foreign Minister (Menlu) Retno Marsudi encourages closer cooperation between ASEAN and countries in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific to realize peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

"We must work hand in hand to maintain peace, stability and prosperity in the region," said Foreign Minister Retno at the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding between the ASEAN Secretariat and the Association of Indian Ocean States (IORA) and between the ASEAN Secretariat and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), in Jakarta, Monday, September 4, was confiscated by Antara.

The signing ceremony was held in a series of events for the 43rd ASEAN Summit (KTT) which took place in the period 5-7 September 2023.

Countries in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, said the Foreign Minister, are an integral part of the Indo-Pacific region.

"Whatever happens in the region will also have an impact on ASEAN countries," he continued.

For this reason, the Foreign Minister assessed that the signing of the MoU between the ASEAN Secretariat, IORA and PIF was an important step to strengthen ASEAN relations with countries in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

"We must work together to prevent this area from becoming a competition arena between big countries," said Foreign Minister Retno.

He also did not want the area to become a field of prolonged conflict in other areas.

Meanwhile, he said, efforts to realize that hope can only be made if all countries in the region apply the same values and principles, encourage collaboration, apply mentality to provide benefits to each other and also increase engagement.

Furthermore, the Foreign Minister said that countries in the Indo-Pacific region have the same challenges and opportunities.

Therefore, he encourages unity to be able to overcome every such challenge.

"Remember, if you want to walk fast, walk alone. But, if you want to walk long, walk together. I believe we all want to go far," said the Foreign Minister.

Therefore, ASEAN and countries in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific encourage concrete cooperation that is of common interest, such as economy, maritime, and climate change.

"That's why we work together to strengthen regional resilience and make our region the center of growth," he said.