Jakarta (ANTARA) - Foreign Minister Sugiono emphasized the importance of an equal, fair, and inclusive partnership between ASEAN and the European Union (EU) to maximize potential cooperation at the ASEAN-EU Post Ministerial Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
In a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta on Friday, Sugiono lauded the progress of ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations between the EU and several ASEAN member states, including Indonesia.
The minister also highlighted the ongoing ASEAN-EU relationship in other sectors, such as sustainable development and the energy transition.
However, he said that in order to move forward, unilateral steps that could hurt ASEAN or the EU and do not reflect their relationship as strategic partners must be avoided.
“The big economic potential of ASEAN-EU can only be realized through mutually beneficial and non-discriminatory policies,” he said.
According to Sugiono, ASEAN-EU dialogue must continue to be maintained, including through the continuation of the Joint Working Group on Palm Oil, the Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement, and exploration of potential cooperation within the Indo-Pacific framework.
During the meeting with the EU, he cited the situation in Palestine and the Middle East and said that economic success would be difficult to achieve if global geopolitical uncertainty persists.
“Indonesia welcomes EU countries providing support to Palestine. However, the ongoing crisis in Gaza requires stronger collective action,” he added and expressed the hope for greater EU support for efforts to resolve the conflict in Gaza.
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He said that the unresolved situation in Gaza and the lack of legal enforcement and accountability have eroded the credibility of the international legal order and could potentially ignite conflicts in other parts of the world.
“We must not let the disregard for international law and inconsistent policies have serious global repercussions,” he said.
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The minister added that the ASEAN-EU partnership is a crucial bridge between Asia and Europe.
“As two of the world’s most successful regional organizations, we must continue to understand each other and work together to create a peaceful, just, and prosperous world,” he said.
ASEAN and the EU have been strategic partners since December 1, 2020.
The ASEAN-EU meeting in Kuala Lumpur was attended by the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, who represented its 27 member states.
