Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) reached an agreement on September 4th on a new regional cooperation platform called ASEAN Concord IV during the ongoing summit in Jakarta.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (Photo: VNA)
Jakarta (VNA) – Foreign ministers from the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) reached an agreement on September 4 on a new regional cooperation platform called ASEAN Concord IV during theongoing summit in Jakarta.
Theinitiative for ASEAN Concord IV has been put forward by the current chair,Indonesia, and is expected to "serve as the foundation for ASEANCommunity's Vision 2045" while strengthening the regional bloc's abilityto address future challenges, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said when chairingthe ASEAN Coordinating Council meeting.
ASEANis already facing significant challenges today, and they will become even moresubstantial in the future, she said, adding member countries should have thecourage to take bold steps to ensure the bloc remains relevant in changingconditions and that differences among members should not hinder ASEAN's progress.
Indonesiahas been the venue for several landmark regional agreements. Notably, duringthe 1976 Summit in Bali, the regional bloc, which consisted of five members atthe time, agreed on the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. This treaty ensuredthat disputes among members must be resolved through peaceful means andaffirmed their commitment to opposing military aggression. It is known as Bali Concord I.
Bali Concord II, adopted in the 2003 summit, laid the foundation for theestablishment of ASEAN economic, security, and social communities, as regionaleconomic cooperation became increasingly integrated.
Eightyears later, Bali Concord III was adopted to enable the bloc's activeparticipation and contribution to global interactions./.
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Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (Photo: VNA) 
