ASEAN-China Agree On Code Of Ethics Negotiation Guidelines In South China Sea, Foreign Minister Retno: For The Sake Of Peace And Joint Stability

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi while chairing the ASEAN Foreign Minister meeting with the Chinese delegation on the sidelines of the 56th AMM event in Jakarta. (Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs said it was important to strengthen ASEAN's cooperation with China, including matters surrounding the South China Sea, as partners in the region, to realize mutual peace and stability.

This was said by Foreign Minister Retno at a meeting of the ASEAN Foreign Minister with the Chinese delegation led by senior diplomat Wang Yi on the sidelines of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM) in Jakarta on Thursday.

Foreign Minister Retno said China was an important ASEAN partner in maintaining peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region for more than three decades.

Economically, he continued, the Bamboo Curtain Country is ASEAN's largest trading partner, and vice versa, China's largest ASEAN trading partner

Foreign Minister Retno explained, the trade value between the two parties reached 975 billion US dollars. Not only that, China is also the fourth largest foreign investment source for ASEAN with a value of 13.8 billion US dollars in 2021.

"Our partnership is increasingly important amid increasing challenges," said Foreign Minister Retno, launching a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thursday, July 13.

This year's relationship, China and ASEAN made an important history with the completion of guidelines for accelerating negotiations on the Code of Ethics (COC) in the South China Sea which was effective and substantive as stated in "Guidelines for Accelerating the Early Conclusion of an Effective and Substantive COC", completing the second reading of the single draft of the COC negotiations, as well as the 20th anniversary of the RRT's access to Friendship and Cooperation Treaty (TAC).

"This achievement must continue to build positive momentum to strengthen partnerships that advance the paradigm of inclusiveness and openness, respect international law including UNCLOS 1982, and encourage dialogue and collaboration habits," explained Foreign Minister Retno.

He said, both ASEAN and China must work hard to strengthen the partnership. According to him, China must become ASEAN's trusted partner in maintaining open and inclusive regional architecture.

"Only then can we achieve the win-win cooperation for the creation of peace, stability, and mutual prosperity in the Indo-Pacific," said Foreign Minister Retno.

On the same occasion, Foreign Minister Retno asked for China's support for the concrete implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), including the plan to organize the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum (AIPF) next September.

In turn, China expressed support for ASEAN's TAC and centrality in the architecture development of inclusive areas. Beijing has also raised a number of priority cooperation areas, such as agriculture, the development of electric vehicles, the blue economy, to people-to-people contacts.

This ASEAN-China meeting was also used to encourage the completion of negotiations on Free Tradement (FTA) 3.0, to strengthen trade relations and regional supply chains. The meeting also emphasized the importance of revitalizing post-pandemic connectivity, including the realization of China's commitment to regional infrastructure development.

In addition, this meeting also encourages cooperation in handling climate change, including to ensure regional food security, as well as developing new and renewable energy.