Jakarta (VNA) - Indonesia is satisfied with theoutcomes of the 32nd ASEAN Summit, which was held in Singapore from April 27 to28, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi was quoted by Antara News onApril 30 as saying.
According to Retno, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) presentedthe concept of Indo-Pacific development at the summit, calling on ASEAN tomaintain active role including in the development of Indo-Pacific regionalcooperation concept.
ASEAN must play its crucial role in the development of theIndo-Pacific cooperation concept as it is important to keep ASEAN relevant,always able to play its centrality and show its capability in managingstrategic environmental change, he stressed.
The big challenge is in the Indo West Pacific region, hesaid, noting that failure to cope with the challenge could lead to disruptionof what ASEAN has achieved so far. Development of Indo-Pacific cooperationshould be based on the principle of transparency and inclusiveness, with emphasison cooperation and friendship.
The concept presented by President Jokowi during the 32ndASEAN Summit`s retreat received positive support from Vietnam and Thailand,Retno said.
She also said that there were several issues raised in themeeting which included the openness of the economy. Almost ASEAN member statescommitted to making the ASEAN economy open and fair, so the RegionalComprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations are really encouraged tobe completed by the end of this year, she said.
"What is appreciated is our role in the RCEP in additionto our commitment to ASEAN as shown by the new ASEAN Building," she said.
ASEAN has asked Indonesia, as the coordinator of RegionalComprehensive Economic Partnership, to conclude the negotiations with sixpartner countries soon. They are Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republicof Korea, and New Zealand, according to the minister.-VNA
VNA