Vientiane: Indonesia expressed its strong desire for the East Asia Summit (EAS) to serve as a regional platform for enhancing mutual trust and expanding cooperation amid global conflicts.
Speaking at the 14th EAS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, on Saturday, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi urged countries to focus their efforts on addressing the world’s immediate needs.
Marsudi said the Indo-Pacific region remains central to global growth, but ongoing global conflicts are hindering efforts to address common challenges.
She stressed that the current world situation is characterized by hegemonic tendencies, intense competition and growing mutual distrust, which increases the risk of miscalculation.
She stressed that all countries need to abide by international law to resolve any disputes and called on EAS member states to unite to end hostilities in Gaza and Ukraine, and ensure peace and stability in the South China Sea and the entire Indo-Pacific region.
Marsudi called on the EAS countries to play an active role in preventing and halting war while advocating for justice and human rights. He also suggested that EAS countries strengthen the role of ambassadors to strengthen regional cooperation and address both technical and substantive issues.
The Meeting concluded with the adoption of a Chairman’s Statement reaffirming the EAS’s commitment to be a forum for dialogue and cooperation on strategic issues aimed at the development of a peaceful, stable and prosperous East Asia.
The foreign ministers also agreed to push for the adoption of an EAS Leaders’ Statement on Strengthening Connectivity and Resilience at the 45th ASEAN Summit in October.
Established in 2005, the EAS is a leaders-led forum promoting dialogue among East Asian and neighboring countries. Its founding members include the 10 ASEAN countries, Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. The United States and Russia formally joined the forum at the 6th EAS Summit held in Indonesia in November 2011.
