Secretary Antony J. Blinken At the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference with the United States

FOREIGN MINISTER MARSUDI:  Colleagues, on behalf of the ASEAN colleagues, I would like to warmly welcome Secretary Blinken back to the ASEAN-U.S. meeting.  In the last three years, we have accomplished so many things together to enhance the ASEAN-U.S. cooperation for the shared interests of our region and the world.  We have successfully elevated our relation to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership at the ASEAN-U.S. Special Summit in May 2022, resulting in the Joint Vision Statement as the guiding compass for our partnership forward.

In the same year, we also established a commitment to advance EV ecosystem in the region, the first of its kind for ASEAN.  Last year, the U.S. also cemented their support to the AOIP through ASEAN-U.S. Leaders’ Statement on Cooperation on the AOIP, fostering our cooperation in the maritime, connected with the SDGs and economy.  Finally, we have established the ASEAN-U.S. Center to propel our cooperation on – in public-private partnership in which new sectoral cooperation are created.

Colleagues, while we enjoy the ASEAN-U.S. good relation, our partnership should also contribute to global peace and stability.  We should be the guardian of the international laws in a consistent manner.  When we talk about respecting international law, it should be applied to all.  It should be applied in Ukraine issue, South China Sea, and certainly for Palestine.  In Palestine, for example, we cannot continue closing our eyes to see the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.  As we speak now, almost 40,000 people have died.  We need a ceasefire.  We need a sustainable peace to stop this human suffering.

So let us continue working together for the people of ASEAN, U.S., as well as for justice and humanity for all.  I thank you very much.

Now I would like to invite my co-chair to deliver his opening remark.  Secretary Blinken, the floor is yours.

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Retno, thank you so much.  Thank you for your partnership as the U.S. country coordinator for these past three years.  Thank you for your friendship.  We’re grateful for it; I’m personally grateful for it.

We have seen an unprecedented expansion of ASEAN-U.S. cooperation.  It could not have happened without Indonesia’s support.  To Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sok, the U.S. is very eager to partner with Cambodia as our next country coordinator, and we thank you for that.  And to our host, Saleumxay, thank you for your leadership as ASEAN chair this year.  Let me also say to Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan that we’re very much looking forward to working with Malaysia as the ASEAN chair in 2025.

Finally, to the secretary-general of ASEAN, we’re grateful for the secretary’s partnership.  We were very pleased to welcome you to Washington last month.  We had a chance to talk about that earlier today.  And let me also say a special thanks to ASEAN’s Committee of Permanent Representatives for all the hard work in support of our growing partnership.

Finally, I’d like to thank – if you’ll allow me a moment of personal privilege – our own ambassador, Ambassador Abraham, for his efforts to elevate the U.S.-ASEAN partnership and relationship.  As you know well, Yohannes is one of our best.  When he picks up the phone, Washington listens, in no small part because he used to be on the other side of the line in Washington himself.

Over the last few years, the United States and ASEAN have embarked on a remarkable deepening and expansion of our ties.  We’ve upgraded our relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and we’ve elevated our work together on digital issues, cyber security, health, the environment and climate, energy, transportation, women’s empowerment – all while reinvigorating longstanding lines of effort in foreign affairs, in economics, and in defense.  This strengthening of our partnership is built upon common values and a shared vision, a shared vision of an open Indo-Pacific, an Indo-Pacific that is free, that’s prosperous, that’s secure, that’s connected, and resilient, as our friends from Laos have emphasized for their chairmanship.

As President Biden has said, ASEAN is at the heart of the United States Indo-Pacific Strategy.  We’re deeply committed to ASEAN’s centrality.  This means we’ll keep working with and through ASEAN to tackle the biggest challenges, while seizing on what we see as almost limitless opportunities.  And we strongly support ASEAN’s Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, which shares fundamental principles with their own Indo-Pacific Strategy.  Our commercial and economic ties are incredibly robust, with two-way trade and investment supporting jobs here in Southeast Asia and in the United States, enhancing the economic futures for U.S. and ASEAN businesses and workers.  The United States is very proud to be the number-one source of foreign direct investment across ASEAN.

Through our partnership, training entrepreneurs and students to the region’s workforce can succeed – excuse me, so that they can succeed in the digital economy.  We’re improving the region’s access to secure and affordable energy, also critical to economic success.  Enhancing ASEAN’s defenses against infectious disease to protect the health of millions of Southeast Asians is another critical line of effort.  We look forward to discussing all of the work that we’re doing to improve the lives of our combined 1 billion people.

As we take stock of this affirmative agenda, we also have to work together to address challenges to this shared vision, whether it’s Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, the DPRK’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, the ongoing and heartbreaking crisis in Burma, or the PRC’s escalatory and unlawful actions taken against the Philippines in the South China Sea over the last few months.  On that, we are pleased to take note of the successful resupply today to Second Thomas Shoal, which is the product of an agreement reached between the Philippines and China.  We applaud that and hope and expect to see that it continues going forward.

Finally, while it is far afield, we recognize the impact that the crisis in Gaza is having on so many people around the world, but first and foremost on those who are suffering its consequences every single day.  About six weeks ago, President Biden put forward a proposal for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the prospect of more enduring peace and security for all concerned.

And we were very gratified that the entire world came out in support of that proposal, including – something we rarely see these days – the United Nations Security Council.  We are working intensely every single day to bring that proposal to a conclusion so that we get the ceasefire, we get the return of hostages, we get a path to more enduring peace and security.  We’re grateful for the support of so many countries around this table for that effort, and we’re determined to see it over the finish line.

And with that, I look forward to our discussion today about how we can enhance what is already a strong, robust partnership between the United States and ASEAN, and address the most pressing issues of our time, particularly those that have a direct impact on the lives of all of our citizens.  We are here responsible to them, and the purpose of this partnership is to do right by them.  Thank you.

FOREIGN MINISTER MARSUDI:  I thank you very much, Tony.  Colleagues, before we continue our meeting, I kindly request the media to leave the room for the closed session.  Thank you very much, colleagues from the media.