Indonesia backs stronger ASEAN-China cooperation for peace, stability

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Foreign Minister Sugiono emphasised that ASEAN-China synergy has an important role in advancing peace and stability in the region and creating prosperity for the people.

While receiving the visit of Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN Hou Yanqi on Tuesday, the foreign minister expressed hope that cooperation between ASEAN and China will be materialised in many sectors and deliver concrete outcomes.

“ASEAN-China partnership is one of the main pillars in maintaining regional stability and economic growth. Indonesia supported the implementation of various concrete cooperation that will give real outcomes for the people in ASEAN countries,” Sugiono stated, according to the ministry’s written statement.

To advance this aspiration, Sugiono and Ambassador Hou discussed follow-up actions to the results of the ASEAN-China Post-Ministerial Conference (PMC), which followed the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, last week.

They discussed the implementation of the ASEAN-China Plan of Action 2026–2030 and the planned signing of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) 3.0 agreement during the next ASEAN Summit in October 2025.

The implementation of regional cooperation under the framework of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was also discussed during their meeting.

“We hope China will continue its active participation in advocating for an inclusive regional economic integration and explore various cooperation potentials that we can optimise further,” Sugiono said.

On the same occasion, the foreign minister welcomed China’s commitment to ratify the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Protocol without any reservation.

He said that such a move reflected China’s important contribution to maintaining peace and stability in the Southeast Asian region.

According to the Foreign Ministry statement, the People’s Republic of China has been ASEAN’s comprehensive strategic partner since 2021 and is ASEAN’s largest trade partner for 16 consecutive years.

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