Want ASEAN To Be Adaptive And Able To Answer Challenges, Foreign Minister Retno: Her Vision Must Be Equipped With Strategic Plans

Foreign Minister Retno at the 57th AMM Meeting in Laos. (Source: Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

JAKARTA - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi wants the ASEAN 2045 Community Vision to be equipped with a strategic plan, so that ASEAN is adaptive and able to answer challenges in the future.

This was said by Foreign Minister Retno at the 57th Meeting of the ASEAN Minister of Foreign Affairs in Vientiane, Laos, Thursday. All Foreign Ministers of ASEAN attended the meeting, unless Myanmar was represented by non-political officials, in accordance with ASEAN's previous decree.

Foreign Minister Retno said it was important for ASEAN to be future oriented, adaptive, able to answer various global challenges and world challenges such as an AI-based economy, a green transition, climate change, food security and world water scarcity.

"Therefore, the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 must be equipped with a clear strategic plan," said Foreign Minister Retno, in a statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thursday, July 25.

Furthermore, Foreign Minister Retno on the occasion said the importance of ASEAN's role and solidarity was more for global issues.

He said the current global situation should encourage all to make more efforts to maintain peace and stability, not to allow open conflict in the region.

"Once again I emphasize the importance of respecting international law, including UNCLOS 1982 and regional norms," said Foreign Minister Retno.

Regarding Palestine, ASEAN can show its solidarity, while many resolutions have been issued by the United Nations but there is no implementation.

"ASEAN can show its solidarity and have a clear position so that atrocities and genocide can end immediately in Palestine," said Foreign Minister Retno.

Meanwhile, regarding ASEAN's support for Timor Leste to implement the Roadmap towards full membership. The Foreign Minister conveyed Indonesia's commitment to organizing various capacity development assistance according to Timor Leste's needs.

Indonesia advises the Secretariat to form a special unit dedicated to helping Timor Leste become a full member of ASEAN.

In addition, today's ASEAN Foreign Minister's plenary meeting also discussed developments in the development of TAC (Treaty of Amity and Cooperation) accession, ASEAN centrality and institutions, green economy, climate change, strengthening of the ASEAN Secretariat, and the development of ASEAN cooperation with its speech partners.