ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat; Laos Commits to Continue Prior Works
Translator
Editor
30 January 2024 16:11 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Laos as the 2024 Chair of ASEAN will continue the work set out by its predecessor, Indonesia, as the previous chair of ASEAN in 2023. The consensus was achieved during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat in Luang Prabang, Laos on Monday, Jan. 29.
"The AMM Retreat produced several agreements, one of which is the continuity of various deliverables from Indonesia's chairmanship last year," Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said in a press conference after the event.
Some of the agendas Laos will work on include the support for the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum (AIPF) and the ASEAN Human Rights Dialogue.
During the AMM Retreat, Retno Marsudi also emphasized to Laos the mainstreaming of maritime issues through the ASEAN Maritime Forum or Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF) as well as other maritime initiatives. "And the necessity to resume ASEAN Human Rights Dialogue, 2nd ASEAN Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue Conference, 2nd ASEAN Blue Economy Forum and the finalization of TOR ASEAN Coordinating Task Force on Blue Economy,” she added.
Minister Retno also said she met with the Foreign Minister of Laos Saleumxay Kommasith, saying they were "comparing notes on the agendas to follow-up during Laos chairmanship."
The issues of Myanmar and Timor Leste
During the first session, Minister Retno brought up the situation in Myanmar and the roadmap for Timor Leste to join ASEAN.
The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the Five Point Consensus. "Indonesia also presented its full notes on Myanmar during its chairmanship last year to Laos," Minister Retno said.
Minister Retno also highlighted the issue of Rohingya, noting the necessity to continue discussing the issue as part of resolving the problem in Myanmar. "ASEAN must work hard to prepare a conducive condition to assist Rohingya people with safe and dignified voluntary return to Myanmar," she said.
Concerning Timor Leste's ASEAN membership, she reiterated Indonesia's willingness to support the country's movement towards full membership in the organization. "This year, the assistance prioritized by Indonesia are concerning food control, education including ASEAN Study, and customs reform and modernization," she said.
Foreign Minister of Timor Leste Bendito Freitas attended the meeting as an observer.
NABIILA AZZAHRA A.
Editor's Choice: Histories of the 11 Currencies of ASEAN Countries
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
