JAKARTA, Aug 4 (NNN-ANTARA) – Indonesia emphasised the importance of strengthening institutional capacity and effectiveness of ASEAN in dealing with health and food security issues, said the country’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, yesterday.
“Health challenges will remain in the future, therefore, ensuring ASEAN’s readiness to address current and future health challenges is very important,” Marsudi said, at the plenary session of the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Existing regional mechanisms must be fully utilised, including accelerating operations and ensuring the availability of funds for the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergency and Emerging Diseases, which will have centres in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. she added.
Regarding food security, Indonesia submitted concept notes on the importance of strengthening the ASEAN Plus Three (China, Japan, and South Korea) Emergency Rice Reserve Agreement, to propose the number of earmarked rice stocks and the addition of other types of food commodities.
Furthermore, Indonesia emphasised the importance of continuing to mainstream women, peace, and security issues in the ASEAN work agenda, and expressed its hope to expedite the process of Timor-Leste’s membership in the regional organisation.– NNN-ANTARA
