REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- During the 20th ASEAN-Korea Dialog in Pyeongchang on June 2-3, 2016, the Indonesian government urged the ASEAN and South Korea to maximize maritime cooperation, according to the Foreign Affairs Ministry's press release received here, Tuesday.
"The ASEAN and the Republic of Korea should consistently emphasize the importance of resolving maritime issues in the political, security, and economic spheres and their social and cultural aspects. We must also protect the ecosystem and marine resources from detrimental activities, such as IUU fishing," Director for Inter-Region Dialog Partners of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs M.I. Derry Aman.
Derry assumed chairmanship of the Indonesian delegation to the meeting of the 20th ASEAN-Korean Dialog held in South Korea.
According to Derry, enhancing maritime cooperation to protect ecosystems and marine resources is vital for life and is closely related to food security, employment, and economic growth in the region.
To this end, Indonesia encourages all member countries of the ASEAN and South Korea to implement an effective and concrete maritime cooperation, as well as to benefit from a variety of important and strategic agreements, including in the maritime field.
"This especially hold true with regard to the East Asia Summit Declaration on Strengthening Regional Maritime Cooperation, which is an initiative of Indonesia," Derry affirmed.
Moreover, Derry stated that the government of Indonesia also encouraged the ASEAN and South Korea to support its initiative regarding the statement of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in the context of cooperation to eradicate illegal fishing to be endorsed at the ARF ministerial meeting in July 2016.
The ASEAN-Korea partnership cooperation was established in 1989 and continues to be developed through the ASEAN-Korea Summit, ministerial meeting, and high officials' meeting, as well as through other mechanisms, such as the ASEAN Regional Forum and ASEAN Defense Ministerial Meeting Plus.