Indonesia Envisions ASEAN-US Partnership to Become Positive Force to Create Peace, Prosperity

Representing President Jokowi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi attends the ASEAN-United States Summit held virtually from the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Saturday (14/11). (Photo by: Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat/Muchlis Jr)

ASEAN and the United States partnership is expected to become a positive force to create peace, stability, and prosperity in the region, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi said, on Saturday (14/11), at the virtual ASEAN-United States Summit.

Representing President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, the Foreign Minister during the Summit pointed out the importance of continued efforts on strengthening ASEAN-United States relations. “The United States is one of ASEAN’s strategic partners in the region, and this cooperation has flourished in various fields,” Retno said in a press statement after the Summit.

In the past four years, Retno said, the economic cooperation and development between the two parties have well-developed. The United States has continued to be ASEAN’s second largest trade and investment partner. “The ASEAN-United States trade figure increased by 39% from US$211.8 billion to US$294.6 billion. The US investment rose 110% from US$11.65 to US$ 24.5 billion,” she added.

In the energy sector, ASEAN-United States have developed long-term cooperation for the 2021-2025 period. Meanwhile, in the digital economy sector, a capacity building program has been carried out for 4,000 MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises).

In the past 10 months, the Minister went on to say, strengthened cooperation has also been carried out in the health sector. “Going forward, Indonesia still hopes that the United States will become an important and strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific region, including in the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific,” she said. (SLN/UN)

Translated by: Fairuzzamani Inayatillah
Reviewed by: Muhardi