Foreign Minister Retno: China's Support To ASEAN Contributes To Resolving The Myanmar Conflict

Evacuation of victims of violence in Myanmar's anti-coup demonstrations. (Twitter/@UNHumanRights)

JAKARTA - Commemorating 30 years of ASEAN relations with China, foreign ministers of ASEAN countries held a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

A number of things were discussed in this meeting, such as the issue of the Indo Pacific, the South China Sea to Myanmar. It is no coincidence that China does have borders and is in direct contact with ASEAN countries regarding these three things.

In a virtual statement Monday, June 7 evening, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi who was present at the meeting in China said that the success of ASEAN in holding the 'ASEAN Leaders Meeting' (ALM) on April 24 in Indonesia, which resulted in the '5 Points of Consensus' must now be implemented.

"China's support for ASEAN to follow up on the 5 points of consensus will be highly appreciated, because this will contribute to efforts to reach a peaceful solution to the crisis in Myanmar," said Foreign Minister Retno.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia)

Regarding the Indo-Pacific issue, Foreign Minister Retno invited ASEAN and China to work together to maintain regional stability, peace and prosperity, amidst the current geopolitical dynamics.

"Therefore, we must continue to improve the habit of dialogue and not competition. Continue to build strategic trust, and not create a trust deficit. Building concrete cooperation that is mutually beneficial or win-win and not a zero-sum game, is in line with the 'ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific'," he explained.

While related to the issue of the China Sea South China Sea, Foreign Minister Retno underlined, the ability to manage this region will be a test for ASEAN-China relations.

According to him, ASEAN and China must immediately continue discussing the Code of Conduct (CoC), which progress is currently very slow.

"We hope that these negotiations will be completed quickly with effective and substantive results. In this regard, Indonesia is ready to host the CoC negotiation meeting in Jakarta in the near future," said Foreign Minister Retno.

He added that Indonesia also encourages all parties to continue to comply with the implementation of the Declaration of Conduct (DoC), including self-restraint.

"I repeat, our ability to manage the South China Sea will be able to strengthen our equal partnership, mutual benefit and indispensable for global peace and stability. And all must be done in accordance with UNCLOS 1982," he concluded.