Keynote Remarks by

H.E. Dr. R.M. Marty M. Natalegawa

Minister of Foreign Affairs
Republic of Inonesia
!A"E# in t$e Mist of t$e Asia%"acific Regional Arc$itecture&.
A"E# Informal 'enior (fficials Meeting
)akarta* Friay* + December ,-.,
A /ery goo morning an welcome to t$e Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
0$ank you /ery muc$ Amb. 1uri for informing us essentially w$at t$e main tasks
before t$e I'(M toay woul be an I appreciate t$at /ery muc$.
(b/iously* I am really elig$te to be able 2oin our colleagues from A"E# member
economies in kick%starting our work for ,-.3.
Inonesia takes great prie in being an integral part of A"E#4s $istory e/er since its
inception back in .565. In .557* Inonesia facilitate t$e 8ogor 9oals* w$ic$ lai t$e
founations for an open trae an in/estment regime in t$e Asia%"acific Region.
An ne:t year w$en Inonesia once again takes t$e $elm of A"E#* .5 years* almost
two ecaes* s$all $a/e pass since t$en.
An ob/ious point* t$e worl $as greatly c$ange an so $as t$e Asia%"acific region
itself. ;$en we launc$e t$e 8ogor 9oals* Asia%"acific4s potential in s$aping t$e
,.st century was e/ient. (nly of course wit$ relentless work an wit$ strong
cooperation. ;$at we i not know t$en was t$at we were fast approac$ing t$e e/e
of t$e Asian Financial #risis of .55+<.556 uring w$ic$ most of t$e economies of
East Asia took a beating. ;it$out oubt Inonesia was one of t$e most se/erely
affecte economy t$en. ;e suffere a negati/e growt$ of almost .7 percent an
soon we were embroile in social an political turmoil. Howe/er* like t$e rest of t$e
region* we reco/ere* we bounce back by instituting per/asi/e reform in e/ery
aspect of our national life. Not$ing less t$an a transformation. In t$e same manner*
t$e region $as regaine its $ealt$ t$roug$ reform an t$roug$ strengt$ening its
economic cooperation. 0$e A"E# economies staye t$e course* we sustaine our
pursuit of t$e 8ogor 9oals* an t$e region regaine its economic strengt$ an its
ynamism. ;e emonstrate resilience.
A similar resilience is being s$own toay. 0$is time* in t$e face of t$e global financial
an economic crisis w$ic$ $as $a its epicentres outsie our region incluing in
Europe. (ur c$allenge a$ea to us is =uite clear an =uite ob/ious in a way. How to
maintain* $ow to nurture* an inee $ow to en$ance suc$ resilience in t$e Asia%
"acific an most especially $ow can A"E# contribute.
Distinguis$e elegates an ear colleagues an friens*
It is a task mae no less easy by t$e increasingly comple: milieu t$at is confronting
us. ;e are all confronte by enourmous c$allenges. #$allenges t$at are so comple:
t$at t$ey make t$e worl a tangle of contraictions. It is upon t$e one $an* a worl
of plenty* yet it is also in t$e ot$er $an* a worl in w$ic$ millions go to be $ungry. A
worl of /ast opportunities* yet in w$ic$ millions are unemploye. A worl of ama>ing
connecti/ity* yet in w$ic$ istant /illages are isolate for lack of infrastructures. A
worl c$allenge by t$e t$reats of foo security* of climate c$ange* an of energy
security. In essence* c$allenges t$at eman partners$ip an t$at eman
cooperation. An once again* t$e =uestion is /ery simple* $ow can A"E# contribute?
#olleagues*
0$e region $as c$ange in ot$er ways as well. ;$en t$e 8ogor 9oals were lai
own* our region t$e Asia%"acific was relati/ely bereft of a efine regional
arc$itecture an t$is is certainly not t$e case toay. 0$e year since $a/e witnesse a
comple: web of cooperation. (f course A"E# itself $as e/elope. 8ut most of all*
A'EAN $as stri/e in its community builing efforts an $as soliifie its centrality
t$roug$ suc$ processes as t$e A'EAN@* A'EAN@3* t$e A'EAN Regional Forum*
an not least t$e East Asia 'ummit. An as well we $a/e witnesse t$e e:ponential
growt$ of networks of compre$ensi/e economic partners$ips an trae agreements
in/ol/ing countries in t$e Asia%"acific region. An inee at its most recent 'ummit
meetings* A'EAN an its partners in t$e region* launc$e negotiations for w$at is
calle Regional #ompre$ensi/e Economic "artners$ip. 0$e launc$ing of t$is
initiati/e was mae at t$e recently conclue A'EAN 'ummits an I t$ink t$at
occasion $as not recei/e t$e full appreciation by many in terms potential
significance an rele/ance. (nce again* t$e =uestion is* $ow can A"E# contribute?
How can it remain rele/ant before suc$ e/ol/ing regional arc$itecture?
0$e region as I sai* t$e arc$itecture of our region is /ery comple:* constantly
e/ol/ing an seeing e/elopments an e/olutions an $ow can we as A"E#
continue to maintain our rele/ance in t$e face of suc$ e/olutions?
Dear friens*
In t$e face of suc$ regional an global c$allenges an opportunities* as Inonesia
assumes c$airmans$ip of A"E# in ,-.3* we will work wit$ you* an I wis$ /ery
muc$ to emp$asi>e t$at sentiment* an I appreciate /ery muc$ w$at Amb. 1uri $a
sai 2ust now* e/en at t$is relati/ely early stage we are benefiting tremenously from
t$e inputs* suggestions* an ot$er contributions by all t$e economies.
;e will work wit$ t$e t$eme of !Resilient Asia%"acific* Engine of 9lobal 9rowt$.& 0$is
is our response to t$e nee for resilience in our region in t$e face of c$allenges an
opportunities before t$e Asia%"acific. In our /iew* t$ree issues are rele/ant if we are
to bring about a resilient Asia%"acific region t$at can ser/e as engine for balance*
sustainable growt$ wit$ e=uity.
First* t$is is t$e most simple an ob/ious one* I belie/e* I4m not sure about simple*
but certainly t$e most ob/ious one. ;e must maintain t$e momentum of a free an
open trae an in/estment to w$ic$ our Aeaers $a/e committe t$emsel/es w$en
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t$ey enorse t$e 8ogor 9oals in .557. 9et t$e 8ogor 9oals* one. I guess t$at is
=uite simple but =uite ob/ious but at t$e same time* /ery basic an essential.
'econ* in our /iew* we must see to it t$at economic growt$ t$at we are pursuing is
one t$at is inclusi/e wit$ an eye to e=uity an social 2ustice by empowering an
taping t$e creati/ity of our people. An we must also see to it t$at it is a sustainable
growt$* one t$at is consistent wit$ our en/ironmental concern. 0$is means among
ot$ers en$ancing small an meium enterprises so t$at t$eir economic potential will
be unleas$e. 0$is means assisting rural populations wit$ means for e/elopment
so t$at t$ey will be t$e aut$ors as well as beneficiaries of t$eir own e/elopment. It
also means greater recognition of t$e role of women in all enea/ours incluing
e/elopment efforts. 0$is is not only rig$t but it is also smart. 0$at way all
stake$olers will s$are t$e fruits of e/elopment.
0$ir* we must accelerate economic growt$ in t$e Asia%"acific by aressing t$e
region4s nee for connecti/ity. I belie/e t$is connecti/ity issue is probably one of t$e
most e:citing pro2ects t$at we can really put our efforts into. ;$en we look at t$e
map t$at brings t$e economies of t$e Asia%"acific toget$er. (n t$e one $an* you
see t$e ob/ious e:panse of t$e region t$at we are referring to. 8ut at t$e same time*
you can recogni>e w$at /alue aing potential A"E# can bring if we can promote
connecti/ity an all its imensions to its work. 0$e economies of t$e region $a/e
istant pro/inces an growt$ poles t$at are not yet well connecte wit$ one anot$er
an to t$e worl market. Hence we must sei>e opportunities for in/esting in t$e
e/elopment for infrastructure for connecti/ity incluing infrastructure for connecti/ity
in our maritime areas as well.
Inonesia intens to a/ance t$ese t$ree approac$es not only wit$in A"E# but also
wit$in A'EAN* in t$e East Asia 'ummit an e/en beyon t$e Asia%"acific* in t$e
9,- forum. Inee we are con/ince t$at resilience an sustainable economic
growt$ can be more reaily ac$ie/e w$en t$e w$ole region grows toget$er. Bery
important* I belie/e* t$is sense t$at it is possible for us to $a/e a mutually beneficial*
mutually reinforcing pat$ of sustainable growt$ wit$ e=uity. It is not a mercantilist
eit$er or one must gain an t$e ot$er must lose* we call t$is in t$e political omain
t$e sense of ynamic e=uilibrium. A sense of common purpose* a sense of common
/ision* common prosperity* common stability. An I woul like to encourage A"E#
Economies to $a/e a similar win%win* all mutually benefiting type of outlook.
Dear friens an collagues*
Inonesia will ob/iously spare no effort in carrying out its responsibility as #$air of
A"E# in ,-.3. I unerstan t$at a full but well organi>e calenar of work is a$ea
of us* "ak 1uri* I $a/e seen t$e calenar* is it calle t$e notional calener if I4m not
mistaken* t$e raft or t$e respecti/e calenar. An may I take t$is opportunity to
con/ey my most $eartfelt appreciation to all t$e officials w$o $a/e worke $ar an
long to prepare for A"E# ,-.3. An especially* I wis$ to unerscore t$e key an
inee strategic role of t$e senior officials processes in ensuring t$e continue
effecti/eness of A"E#4s work. I wis$ /ery muc$ to emp$asi>e t$at point because t$e
way A"E# works I guess t$e Aeaers meeting takes place at t$e tail en of t$e year.
8ut A"E# is not an e/ent* it4s a process. 'o we must ensure t$at t$e preceeing ten*
nine mont$s actually fulfille by certain concrete $arwork so t$at t$e 'ummit* t$e
$ig$ le/el economies meeting* is one t$at captures an woul substance to t$e
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$arwork t$at you $a/e put in t$roug$out t$e year. An t$e role of t$e senior officials
is especially critical. An I am looking at all of you not only wit$ a great $ope but wit$
certain recognition an con/iction an confience t$at you woul be t$ere to be able
to pro/ie t$at continuity an recognition of t$e importance of your work.
In particular* I wis$ to turn to our colleagues from Russia an #$ina. ;e will work
/ery closely wit$ t$em too. ;$y? As immeiate past an incoming c$airs of A"E#*
to ensure t$at our work t$is year buils upon w$at we ac$ie/e last year an to
ac$ie/e a seamless transition to ,-.7. It is important as A"E# as I $a/e sai is a
process* not to rein/ent t$e will* to start from scratc$* t$e temptation to assume t$at
not$ing $as been one before an we begin from year >ero. ;e are builing upon
t$e important work t$at we $a/e ac$ie/e in Blai/ostok an we work towars
#$ina4s c$airmans$ip of A"E# ,-.7. An of course we will work wit$ all of you* all
A"E# Economies so t$at we can contribute to t$e builing of a resilient Asia%"acific
region t$at ser/es as engine of global growt$.
Distinguis$e friens an $eas of elegations*
8efore I conclue* it is my pleasure to introuce t$e logo of our c$airmans$ip. I t$ink
it is before t$e screen an at t$e sie of our room. 0$e logo was* was it esigne by
"ak 1uri* i you esign it* "ak 1uri? I on4t t$ink so* you $a/e many a%talent but
you i not esign t$is one rig$t? 0$e logo was selecte t$roug$ open competition*
in/ol/ing t$ousans of contestants* if I4m not mistaken "ak 1uri. It epicts a strong
bamboo tree wit$ ,. bamboo s$oots. It bens to t$e force of t$e win yet it remains
firmly roote an intact. Hence* it symboli>es t$e resilience of A"E# Economies an
t$e firmness of our commitment to ser/e as a force for sustainable global prosperity
wit$ e=uity.
8efore I conclue* I wis$ as well to turn to our colleagues from t$e "$ilippines in
wanting on be$alf of all of us* I am sure* to con/ey our eepest of sympat$y an
conolences an sense of being toget$er to t$e "$ilippines people in facing t$e /ery
ifficult natural situation t$at t$ey are now facing an I am sure all of us* t$e ifferent
economies* will want to contribute in any way t$at is appropriate from t$e "$ilippines
perspecti/e in being able to alle/iate t$e kin of ifficulties or suffering t$at t$ey are
ob/iously going t$roug$.
I wis$ all of you finally proucti/e an constructi/e eliberations uring t$is Informal
'enior (fficials Meeting. "ak 1uri* your task as #$air is not only to ensure proucti/e
meeting* but at t$e same time to ensure t$at all our colleagues* $a/e sufficient time
to actually en2oy )akarta as well an not to simply en up in t$e conference room. 'o
you woul want to get your work one relati/ely =uickly so you can also en2oy
)akarta an contribute to our economy in )akarta as well.
I now $a/e t$e $onor to eclare A"E# Informal 'enior (fficials4 Meeting open.
0$ank you /ery muc$.
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