Indonesia Seeks Stable and Peaceful Pacific Region

Liputan6.com, Bali - Indonesia just welcomed Pacific delegations at the Indonesia Pacific Forum for Development on Tuesday (7/11). The event was held alongside the Bali Democracy Forum 2022. 

“We must maintain the Pacific as a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region,” said Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi during the opening of the Indonesia Pacific Forum for Development in Bali. 

According to the report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the forum was attended by 17 Pacific countries and territories, four multilateral organizations, and five invited countries. Among those present were Premier of Niue and seven ministers from Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, and the Kingdom of Tonga.

Timor Leste is the new member of ASEAN which has recently been "principally" accepted.

The ministry said this forum highlighted Indonesia's commitment to strengthen its engagement in the Pacific, including through technical and development cooperation.

“When Indonesia talks about Pacific Elevation, it is not only about elevating Indonesia’s engagement with the Pacific,” FM Marsudi stated, “It is also about working together as part of the Pacific, to elevate the livelihoo​ds of communities in this region.” 

The areas of cooperation discussed during the Forum also included climate change, disaster mitigation, food, health, and energy security, and then connectivity, human resource development, and women empowerment.