President Jokowi: East Asian Countries Must Strengthen Foundation for Peace in Indo-Pacific
President Jokowi attends the 17th East Asia Summit at the Sokha Hotel Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Sunday (11/13). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/Laily Rachev)
During the 17th East Asia Summit at the Sokha Hotel, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Sunday (11/13) called on ASEAN to maintain stability and peace in the Southeast Asian region since it has been striving to carry out the duty for the past five decades.
“It is incumbent upon member states of the East Asia Summit to strengthen the foundation of peace in the Indo-Pacific instead of sowing seeds of hostility and beating the drums of war. We must not see the Indo-Pacific from the narrow perspective of security politics, but also the potentials for economic cooperation instead,” the President said.
On that occasion, the President also addressed three proposals for the relations of the East Asia Summit.
First, strengthening the spirit and paradigm for collaboration.
According to the President, East Asian countries must be able to accommodate mutual trust among countries.
“The culture of cooperation must be strengthened to overcome a slew pf challenges in the region. Therefore, let us strengthen concrete cooperation in accordance with the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. I invite East Asian countries to participate in the upcoming Indo-Pacific forum next year in Indonesia,” he said.
Second, East Asian countries must respect the rules of the game in relations between countries. The UN Charter and international legal instruments such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) must be enforced consistently.
“Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is non-negotiable,” he said.
Third, creating an inclusive regional architecture.
“An inclusive regional architecture will serve as a strong foundation for cooperation that benefits everyone. The Indo-Pacific must become a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region,” he remarked. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/AIT) (RIF/EP)
