"ASEAN unity is very important and Indonesia should take a leading role because Indonesia is a big country, especially in terms of its population and economy. But Indonesia should not only rely on its natural resources but also further develop its maJakarta (ANTARA News) - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has just concluded its Summit that took place on 26-29 April, 2017, in Manila, the Philippines, and produced the ASEAN Declaration on the Role of the Civil Service as a Catalyst for Achieving the ASEAN Community Vision 2025.
ASEAN, whose economy grows 5.5 percent this year with a population of around 600 million people and abundant natural wealth, is a huge and attractive market for many countries in the world including such developed countries as the United States, China and Russia.
Recognizing this potential, the ASEAN leaders have set the organization's vision up to 2025 dealing with various issues including those on economy, connectivity, human rights and security.
The Vision of the ASEAN Community 2025 outlines the organizations strategic directions within the next decade (2016-2025) which is aimed at consolidating the development of the ASEAN Community and deepening the integration that has already taken place.
The vision of ASEAN articulates the aspirations to realize a rule-based, people-centered and people-centered ASEAN.
In an effort to realize that vision, the ASEAN members of Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore, Myanmar and Laos should promote unity in the face of the opportunities and challenges.
ASEAN, which will become one of the world's new economic powers, has an opportunity to develop its economic growth by developing internal and external ASEAN cooperation with countries that have become its partners as China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, India, New, Russia and the United States as well as the European Union.
Indonesia
However, ASEAN still has challenges that should be overcome, and Indonesia as the biggest country in terms of population (market) and economy in the region with a lot of experience in tackling a number of problems both at home and abroad should take the initiative to lead the trajectory towards achieving the ASEAN vision 2025.
Looking at Indonesia's potentials, Former Finance Minister M. Chatib Basri said that Indonesia should play a leading role in ASEAN which has the aspiration to show a strong competitor in the regional and global market.
"ASEAN unity is very important and Indonesia should take a leading role because Indonesia is a big country, especially in terms of its population and economy. But Indonesia should not only rely on its natural resources but also further develop its manufacturing capability," Basri said at the Jakarta Geopolitical Forum on May 19-20, 2017.
Some of the challenges being faced by ASEAN include the South China Sea issue, security issues in Korean Peninsula, terrorism, oil palm issues especially after the issuance of a resolution on the ban of imports of the commodity by the European Parliament, and the issue of social media.
If those issues are not resolved, ASEAN's efforts to achieve the Vision of the ASEAN Community 2025 will be disrupted. In this case, Indonesia can play a role in leading ASEAN because of its experiences.
If Indonesia is able to overcome ASEAN's internal security issues, the worlds largest archipelagic country is also expected to be able to deal with external questions which may also affect the countries in the Southeast Asia region.
Interlocutor
Among the cases in which Indonesia has given its helping hands to settle them were the issue of political power struggle in Cambodia in 1970. In an effort to resolve the issue, Vietnam also sought to provide assistance, but the other ASEAN members did not agree with Vietnams involvement in the Cambodian conflict.
ASEAN then appointed Indonesia through the then-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mochtar Kusumaatmadja, as an interlocutor to speak with Vietnam to resolve the conflict in Cambodia.
Thus, Indonesia can also do the same for overcoming every problem including the South China Sea issue and the Korean Peninsula issue that have disturbed the stability in the region.
The South China Sea issue has drained the energy of ASEAN member countries which have been trying to maintain security, peace and stability in Southeast Asia which is conducive for every effort to create prosperity for the people.
Although the Philippines won at the International Tribunal over China in the the case of the South China Sea, the latter which claims the South China sea as the heritage of its ancestors, is still unsatisfied.
Meanwhile, the Korean Peninsula issue, especially that on the missile launching by North Korea, has also caused anxiety among ASEAN countries. The event is feared to further affect economic and trade activities with South Korea which is an important dialogue partner for ASEAN.
ASEAN is also still facing security issues including terrorist attacks like those recently occurring in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Davao, the Philippines. Terrorist attacks can happen anywhere in an unexpected time and claims lives.
Indonesia is known for its experience in efforts to stamp out terrorism, and many foreign parties frequently involve the country in international forums including the Arab American Islamic Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on May 21, 2017, which was also attended by President Joko Widodo who among others talked about the importance of Muslim unity to combat terrorism.
"The unity of Muslims is the key to the success of eradicating terrorism, we should not let our energy run out for mutual hostility," he said during a conference that brought together Arab and Islamic leaders with US President Donald Trump at King Abdul Aziz International Convention Center, Riyadh.
Indonesia also has an experience in what is known as shuttle diplomacy. Then Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa conducted the diplomacy in 2012 in an effort to strengthen ASEANs unity and managed to make all foreign ministers agree on measures to address the South China Sea issue.
Based on its Free and Active Foreign Policy and its experiences, Indonesia can make approaches to conflicting parties to reach peaceful solutions such as those on Cambodia in which Indonesia served as an interlocutor or on South China Sea dispute through the shuttle diplomacy.
With those roles and experiences, Indonesia should take a lead in ASEAN in the spirit of ASEAN solidarity with the principle of One Vision, One Identity, One Community, to settle various issues such as those about the resolution on the ban of importing Palm oil by the European Parliament, and such problems emanating from social media as hoax and fake news.
Indonesia should be able to play a leading role in maintaining the integrity of ASEAN in order to achieve its goals as planned in the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2025 which aims to prosper the people of ASEAN.
ASEAN's one spirit -- One Vision, One Identity and One Community--should remain strong and ASEAN should not run into a situation as experienced by the European Union whose one of its members, Britain, quit the union which is known as Brexit.
Reporter: By Bambang Purwanto
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2017
