"Peace and security in Indian Ocean should be based on the laws, including United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)," Turnbull emphasized here on Tuesday.
Australia was the chair of IORA before Indonesia took over for the period of 2015-2017. The IORA will further be led by South Africa.
Turnbull believes that the positive results achieved in the IORA Summit will continue to be applied under the leadership of South Africa.
Earlier, at the closing ceremony of IORA Leaders Summit, President Joko Widodo noted that the Jakarta Concord emphasizes efforts to create the Indian Ocean as a secure and peaceful region.
The president also wants the leaders of the IORA countries to be committed to respecting international rules, such as the UNCLOS) as a global constitution, to regulate the ocean.
Earlier, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi noted that the IORA should strengthen regional and international cooperation to maintain stability, peace, and security in the Indian Ocean region.
"We have to face the global challenges by improving regional and international cooperation, in order to maintain stability, peace, and security in the Indian Ocean," the minister remarked.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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