Indonesian Foreign Minister, Ms. Retno Marsudi, and Singaporean Foreign Minister, Mr. Vivian Balakrishnan, emphasised the strong bilateral relations and discussed regional issues at the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Laos
INDONESIAN Foreign Minister, Ms. Retno Marsudi, highlighted the increasingly strong bilateral relations between Indonesia and Singapore over the past decade to Singaporean Foreign Minister, Mr. Vivian Balakrishnan. This discussion took place during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (57th AMM) in Vientiane, Laos, on Wednesday, July 24th, 2024.
Ms. Retno Marsudi noted the positive developments in bilateral relations, including the ratification of the FIR, Extradition, and Defense Agreements. These agreements have contributed to the strengthening of ties between the two nations. She also mentioned the rapid growth in trade and investment cooperation with Singapore, which remains one of Indonesia’s key partners in these sectors.
Myanmar & Mid-East Conflicts
In addition to discussing bilateral relations, the issue of Myanmar was addressed. Ms. Retno stated that both Indonesia and Singapore share the same stance on the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) as the primary reference for resolving the crisis in Myanmar following the 2021 military coup. However, she acknowledged the minimal progress in its implementation due to the lack of commitment from the Myanmar Military Junta.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict was also a topic of conversation between Ms. Retno and Mr. Balakrishnan. Ms. Retno condemned three draft laws from the Israeli parliament that would label the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, as a “terrorist group.” She emphasized that this effort is unacceptable, highlighting the agency’s role in supporting millions of Palestinian refugees.
During the 57th AMM, Ms. Retno also held a bilateral meeting with Thai Foreign Minister, Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa. Additionally, she participated in the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Commission (SEANWFZ Commission) meeting, a session with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Committee on Human Rights (AICHR) Representatives, and the Troika meeting for the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus.
Source: Antaranews
