RI to push for maritime cooperation

Indonesia is expected to push for inter-regional cooperation in the maritime sector, reaffirming previous commitments made by ASEAN leaders in last year’s East Asia Summit (EAS) in Kuala Lumpur, a minister has said.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo will remind ASEAN leaders about the implementation of the Statement on Enhancing Regional Maritime Cooperation, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi told The Jakarta Post. “Maritime cooperation has been discussed since last year — Indonesia succeeded in [convincing ASEAN member states] about the importance of maritime cooperation in the context of the EAS,” she said on Monday.

As a nation aspiring to become a regional maritime power Indonesia will seek a way to implement its maritime axis plan, as evidenced by the government’s recent gestures in developing the Natuna Islands, which lie strategically close to the disputed South China Sea.

It will also be the first ASEAN summit held since the commencement of the ASEAN Community at the end of last year, as well as the first meeting of leaders since The Hague arbitration ruling that dismissed China’s claims in the South China Sea.

Indonesia is aware that a maritime regime based on international law, as quoted in last year’s EAS Statement, is key to facilitating the region’s “impressive economic growth”.

“We will definitely push for the implementation of the 2015 agreement on maritime cooperation,” ministry spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir said, adding that it was an initiative raised by Indonesia in last year’s EAS.

This year’s EAS will be part of a series of summits held under the banner of the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits and related meetings, which will be hosted by sitting ASEAN chair Laos in Vientiane on
Sept. 6 to 8.

ASEAN is scheduled to have various meetings with stakeholders and dialogue partners. ASEAN and China will commemorate the 25th anniversary of their cooperation while an inaugural ASEAN-Australia Summit will also take place.

A series of ASEAN+1 meetings will be held with a number of countries as well as the ASEAN+3 meeting with China, Japan and South Korea.

Meanwhile, preparations in Laos are well underway ahead of the commencement of the summits.

Over the weekend, Laos Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and his delegates toured the National Convention Center, the main venue where the meetings will take place, to inspect the preparations firsthand, The Vientiane Times reported.

Lao officials have estimated that more than 5,000 leaders, official delegates and business leaders, as well as 600 foreign media personnel, will attend and cover the summits and related meetings to be held-back-to-back in the Lao capital.

Source : http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/08/30/ri-push-maritime-cooperation.html

By admin
30 Aug 2016
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INSA