"Maritime cooperation is very strategic as it is in line with the Indonesian initiative regarding the global maritime axis and has a direct impact on stability, security and prosperity in the region," President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said here on Sunday.
Promoting maritime cooperation as a new priority in cooperation among East Asia nations is one of the two things which are important for the future of the EAS, he said.
He further praised all EAS member states for their support for the Indonesian initiative regarding EAS Statement on Enhancing Regional Maritime Cooperation to be endorsed at the meeting.
"The EAS statement is political declaration which shows EAS member states commitment to promote dialogues and cooperation in the maritime sector," he said.
The endorsement of the document needs a follow up action through a concrete activity, he said.
"For its part, I would like to encourage the development of sustainable maritime economy, maritime connectivity, and cooperation among research institutions and overcome border cross challenges," he said.
He called on EAS member states to fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and that he proposed the formation of legal instrument in the region to fight against IUU fishing.
Of equal importance is cooperation in combating terrorism, radicalism and extremism, he said.
Indonesia is the largest Muslim country and the third largest democratic country in the world, yet pluralism which is a daily reality is growing well in the country, he said.
"Indonesias experience shows that Islam, democracy and pluralism can co-exist peacefully and that they are important assets," he said.
Indonesia gives a priority to legal and cultural approaches to fight against terrorism, he said calling on EAS member states to work closely to combat extremism and radicalism.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
