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VIVA – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a special economic and geopolitical organization for countries in the region will strengthen regional stability beyond economic affairs in order to deal with global uncertainty.
Director General of ASEAN Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sidharto R. Suryodiporo, said that economic affairs greatly impact regional stability. Therefore, strengthening the region is significant.
"Perhaps the basic thing, outside of economic affairs, which has a great impact is regional stability. So, we are very aware of the importance of regional stability," Sidharto R. Suryodiporo said in an online discussion with Forum Merdeka Barat (FMB) 9 in Jakarta, on Monday, February 6, 2023.
Director General of ASEAN Cooperation at Foreign Affairs Ministry, Sidharto R.
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Sidharto said ASEAN is so lucky because it has one capital as a multi-layered diplomacy, and through several channels, ASEAN prepares a central diplomacy platform that is expected to strengthen regional stability.
Meanwhile, on economic affairs, Sidharto emphasized the importance of strengthening some sensitive issues such as food security and energy security through cooperation among ASEAN countries.
"We will increase cooperation among ASEAN itself, reaching an agreement on how to cooperate on food in times of crisis. We can help each other and build cooperation with the world's food producing countries," Sidharto explained.
Likewise, cooperation in the fields of energy, health, finance and economic digitalization. All of this will be maximized so that Indonesia is competitive at the ASEAN evel and globally.
However, achieving this requires a regional ecosystem that has the same or at least similar rules. In the past year, Sidharto said, there has been a common view on this matter.
"I think with this we can be optimistic that Southeast Asia can also be a place that sets standards. Or if other countries can set their own standards, then ASEAN countries including Indonesia should also be able to set their own standards and can be followed by other countries," Sidharto concluded.
