Looking beyond 2015, RI wants a common platform for ASEAN

Jakarta will host the 18th ASEAN summit from May 7-8, where the leaders of the association’s 10 nations will discuss regional and global issues. The Jakarta Post’s Abdul Khalik and Sita Winiawati Dewi talked to Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa on Wednesday about the summit. Below are excerpts.

Question: Indonesia has set a three-pronged agenda for its ASEAN chairmanship this year: speeding the group’s integration, developing a regional architecture and expanding ASEAN’s global role. How do you assess progress to date?
Answer: Indonesia has made significant progress in moving toward achieving the goal of the ASEAN Community by 2015. We have made progress on the economic pillar, the political pillar and the socio-cultural pillar, building on what was done last year under Vietnam’s chairmanship and [laying groundwork for] next year when we hand things over to Cambodia. We have to make sure that there is good development and good progress on all three pillars. Read more