Indonesia seeks greater role in ASEAN
By IANSWednesday, February 10, 2010
JAKARTA - Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said the country should enhance its role in ASEAN for economic benefits.
Indonesia will take over the 10-member ASEAN’s chairmanship in 2013.
“Our contribution to ASEAN should not only be maintained but enhanced for the economic interest of Indonesia. We have to ensure that Indonesians can reap the benefits of ASEAN to increase their welfare,” said Marty in his closing speech at a weeklong meeting of ambassadors Tuesday, Xinhua reported.
Marty said Jakarta has to translate political closeness with friendly partners into economic cooperation that would benefit people on both sides.
“The global financial crisis teaches us a valuable lesson of not depending only on traditional markets,” he said.
He said the country should also secure its political interests in the East Asia and Pacific region through the new regional architecture initiatives floated by Japan and Australia.
The ambassadors’ meeting gathered around 200 Indonesian diplomats from 119 embassies and consulates around the world.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
