Accepting Chinese Foreign Minister, Foreign Minister Retno Emphasizes the Importance of Stability in the ASEAN Region and the South China Sea

JAKARTA - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stressed the importance of peace and stability in the ASEAN region as well as the South China Sea, while receiving her Chinese counterpart Qin Gang in Jakarta, Wednesday.

Repeating President Joko Widodo's statement to ASEAN foreign ministers some time ago, Foreign Minister Retno emphasized that ASEAN should not become a proxy for any power.

"Indonesia and ASEAN have a great interest in Southeast Asia remaining a peaceful and stable region and making it a center of economic growth," said Foreign Minister Retno in a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Qin in Jakarta, Wednesday, February 22.

"In this context, I then explained the priorities of Indonesia's chairmanship in ASEAN this year which takes the theme 'ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth'. Indonesia will try its best to make ASEAN remain relevant to the interests of the people of ASEAN and beyond," continued Foreign Minister Retno

Furthermore, he said, ASEAN also has demographic assets and good economic growth. Therefore, Indonesia is determined to continue to make the Southeast Asian region the epicenter of growth.

On this occasion, Foreign Minister Retno also explained the importance of implementing the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) for ASEAN to Foreign Minister Qin.

Foreign Minister Retno explained a number of important elements of AOIP, including emphasizing the importance of inclusiveness and concrete cooperation that is mutually beneficial.

"It is in the context of AOIP implementation, I repeat, in the context of AOIP implementation, that Indonesia will hold the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum which will be filled with discussions on strengthening infrastructure cooperation and the Investment Summit," said Foreign Minister Retno.

"Indonesia will greatly appreciate China's participation in the implementation of AOIP," she said.

Regarding the South China Sea, Foreign Minister Retno said that Indonesia wants to see conditions in the region as a peaceful and stable sea.

"Respect for international law, especially UNCLOS 1982, is key," said Foreign Minister Retno emphasized.

After being delayed due to the pandemic, Foreign Minister Retno said that the Code of Conduct (CoC) negotiations regarding the South China Sea would be carried out again and intensified in-person.

"Indonesia and ASEAN want to produce an effective, substantive and actionable CoC," she said.

He added that Indonesia expressed its appreciation for China's support for the '5-Point of Consensus' (5PC), related to the crisis that occurred in Myanmar.

"5PC is the main reference for ASEAN to help Myanmar get out of its political crisis," concluded Foreign Minister Retno.