Jakarta，February 5, 2023（AseanAll）— The ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat (AMMR) was convened at the ASEAN Building, Jakarta on February 4. The meeting was chaired by Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and attended by Foreign Ministers of all ASEAN member states, except Myanmar.
The AMMR meeting was constructive and productive in discussing the direction of ASEAN cooperation in 2023 under Indonesia's leadership.
Stemming from the Chairmanship's theme of ASEAN Matters: Epicentre of Growth, ASEAN Foreign Ministers expressed joint support in enhancing ASEAN's capacity and effectiveness, ASEAN's readiness to face current and future challenges, and ensuring the region remains the centre of economic growth including the development of the ASEAN Blue Economy Framework.
The meeting also discussed the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo Pacific (AOIP). These included identifying concrete projects with ASEAN partners, strengthening ASEAN partnerships with Pacific countries, and developing the ASEAN Maritime Outlook. The Ministers expressed their support for Indonesia's implementation of the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum.
The ASEAN Ministers exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues while emphasising the importance of ASEAN unity. These issues included the commitment to finalise the South China Sea COC negotiations, as well as the affirmation of a united approach to support the implementation of the Five Point Consensus (5PC).
There was a common understanding to build more effective and productive ASEAN external partnerships, based on the principles of equality and mutual respect. Efforts to promote ASEAN's partnership with the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as well as the strengthening of the East Asia Summit (EAS) as a regional strategic forum, particularly in addressing challenges in the Indo-Pacific, were also discussed.
The ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat (AMMR) was preceded by the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) on 2 February 2023, and the 32nd ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) meeting on 3 February 2023.
