Wahyu Dwi Anggoro
IDXChannel - Indonesia underlined the importance of a common vision for guiding the Indo-Pacific maritime region during the 11th Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF) in Bali this week.
“The various interests of great powers frequently collide in the Indo-Pacific maritime region. Failure to manage these challenges may threaten peace and stability in the region," said Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in a media release on Thursday (3/8/2023).
“We must avoid our region becoming the epicentrum of conflict. The maritime sphere plays a key role in creating this area as the Epicentrum of Growth," she added.
Retno encouraged the EAMF to be a forum for developing and strengthening policy synergy related to maritime cooperation and governance in the Indo-Pacific.
“All stakeholders should take part in realizing this goal," she stated.
Director-General for ASEAN Cooperation Sidharto Suryodipuro expressed the importance of building trust, as well as the active and centrality of ASEAN in shaping maritime policy and governance in the region.
“ASEAN has also just launched the first edition of the ASEAN Maritime Outlook (AMO) which summarizes the progress and directions of ASEAN maritime cooperation in one comprehensive document," the Director General said.
EAMF was attended by representatives of senior officials from all ASEAN countries, as well as eight partner countries: the United States, Australia, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia, China, and New Zealand. A number of panelists were also present to present maritime cooperation initiatives covering aspects of peace, stability, and the blue economy.
EAMF was organized as part of a series of activities of the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) held in Bali from 31 July to 5 August 2023. (WHY)
