Minister Retno Calls The ASEAN Foreign Minister's Meeting Resulting Three Agreements

JAKARTA - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi held a meeting of Foreign Ministers throughout ASEAN in Jakarta. During the meeting, it resulted in three main agreements, including efforts by the regional organization to help Myanmar get out of the political crisis.

The ASEAN Foreign Ministers's Retreat (AMM) meeting was chaired by Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and attended by foreign ministers from ASEAN members, except Myanmar.

"I am pleased to be able to inform you that ASEAN's meetings for the past two days are constructive, substantive, and productive," said Foreign Minister Retno quoting Antara.

First, Retno said, ASEAN's Foreign Ministers expressed mutual support in increasing the capacity and effectiveness of ASEAN institutions as well as readiness to face the challenges of the present and future, including welcoming ASEAN 2045.

Second, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers also agreed to make Southeast Asia a center of growth, an aspect that is also the theme of Indonesia's chairmanship this year.

One of the efforts to achieve this is to expand the fundraising of the ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund to the ASEAN Response Fund, as well as develop the ASEAN Blue Economy Framework.

The implementation of ASEAN's View of the Indo-Pacific (ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific / AOIP) also did not escape discussion.

The third agreement from AMM is that the Foreign Ministers have agreed to map concrete projects with ASEAN partners as part of the implementation of AOIP, strengthen ASEAN's partnership with Pacific countries, and develop ASEAN Maritime Outlook.

On this occasion, Foreign Minister Retno also mentioned that there were three main issues that became the main discussion during the meeting, both regional and global issues, one of which was the commitment to settle behavioral negotiations (Code of Conduct / COC) of the South China Sea.

Related to this, the Indonesian government stated that it is ready to hold more negotiations regarding the South China Sea code of conduct (CoC) during its role as chairman of ASEAN this year.

The first CoC negotiations in Indonesia are scheduled for March. Another issue that is also discussed is the affirmation of ASEAN's joint stance to support the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) to help Myanmar.

According to Retno, ASEAN's stance to respond to the Myanmar crisis will not change and will always refer to the Five-Point Consensus.

"The plan (implementation of consensus) is very important for ASEAN, especially the chairman, as a guideline in responding to the situation in Myanmar. This shows the unity of ASEAN members to implement 5PC," he said.

The five consensus points agreed by Myanmar with ASEAN leaders are the immediate end to violence in Myanmar, dialogue between all relevant parties, the appointment of special envoys, the distribution of humanitarian aid by ASEAN to Myanmar, and the visit of ASEAN's special envoy to Myanmar to meet with all parties.

In addition, AMM also generates a common understanding to establish a more effective and productive ASEAN external partnership, based on the principle of equality and mutual respect.

Furthermore, Indonesia will also seek to encourage the ASEAN partnership with the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as well as strengthening the East Asia Summit (EAS) as a strategic forum for the region, especially in overcoming challenges in the Indo-Pacific.