Jakarta (ANTARA) - United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed US support for Indonesia's leadership in ASEAN and Indonesia's role as the coordinator of the US-ASEAN dialogue.
Blinken confirmed this support in a telephone conversation with the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi on Thursday (16/2), said the office of the Spokesperson for the US Department of Foreign Affairs as conveyed by the US Embassy in Jakarta, Friday.
In the conversation, Blinken and Retno discussed the priorities of Indonesia's chairmanship in ASEAN this year, including ASEAN's approach to overcoming the crisis in Myanmar and the next steps for the process of Timor Leste joining ASEAN.
Blinken also stressed the role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in establishing a free and open Indo-Pacific, while highlighting cooperation with ASEAN as a means of achieving prosperity and security.
In his conversation with Retno, Blinken also discussed the US-Indonesia strategic partnership, a number of new initiatives under the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment ( PGII ), and Indonesia's participation in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity ( Indo- Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity/IPEF ).
On the same occasion, Blinken praised the leadership of Indonesia and Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno in promoting the issue of education for women and girls in Afghanistan.
Tags:
ASIA EAST UPDATE