"It is in line with the APEC Summit. Indonesia wants greater connectivity among ASEAN countries, as well as between ASEAN countries and their strategic partners," presidential special aide for economic and development affairs Firmanzah said.Brunei (ANTARA News) - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will be reiterating the need for connectivity at the 23rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit being held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam on Wednesday.
Presidential special aide for economic and development affairs Firmanzah said on the sidelines of the Summit that Indonesia had earlier conveyed the idea at the recently concluded Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Bali.
"It is in line with the APEC Summit. Indonesia wants greater connectivity among ASEAN countries, as well as between ASEAN countries and their strategic partners," he noted.
Firmanzah pointed out that this position had also been conveyed during bilateral meetings between ASEAN and Japan and ASEAN and Korea.
He added that connectivity was needed to boost the region`s economy. It will also support the creation of an ASEAN Community by 2015, Firmanzah said.
He however said that the framework for cooperation in infrastructure development, aimed at reducing the gap between countries was yet to be discussed further.
While leading the APEC Summit in Bali on Tuesday, President Yudhoyono had also encouraged a discussion on connectivity among countries in the APEC region, as well as with non-APEC countries.
A number of meeting agendas were set on Wednesday, including the ASEAN Summit, as well as the bilateral summit between ASEAN and Japan, ASEAN and Korea, ASEAN and China and ASEAN and the US. (*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
