Indonesia, Cambodia Agree to Strengthen ASEAN Centrality

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia and Cambodia have agreed to intensify cooperation for ASEAN`s unity and centrality during the 4th Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and her Cambodian counterpart Prak Sokhonn in Jakarta on Tuesday.

According to Marsudi, the governments of the two countries have agreed to cooperate to ensure that Southeast Asia remained a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region.

Meanwhile, Sokhonn conveyed Cambodian government`s support for the Indo-Pacific concept promoted by Indonesia by prioritizing ASEAN unity and centrality.

"We reaffirm Cambodia`s support for the Indo-Pacific concept initiated by Indonesia, and we also reaffirm the importance of ASEAN`s centrality," he remarked.

In response, Marsudi expressed her appreciation for the support.

"Indonesia greatly appreciates Cambodia`s support in developing the Indo-Pacific concept, which encourages the principles of openness, inclusiveness, transparency, and respect for international law and ASEAN centrality," she explained.

Indonesia has been promoting the development of Indo-Pacific concept that underlines several key principles, including cooperation, inclusiveness, transparency, openness, and respect for international law.

The Indonesian government also refers to three main areas of cooperation under Indo-Pacific concept, namely maritime cooperation in tackling crimes in the sea, cooperation in connectivity to spur economic growth, and cooperation in realizing sustainable development through the achievement of inclusive Sustainable Development Goals.

ANTARA