Indonesia Urges ASEAN To Leverage RCEP For Resilient, Rules-based Trade In Indo-Pacific
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- Indonesia has called on ASEAN to leverage the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) as a platform for resilience and rules-based trade across the Indo-Pacific region.
Delivering a special address at the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum (AIPF) 2025 here today, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said that regional integration and cooperation are crucial to ensuring long-term prosperity and stability.
“We must intensify our collaborations and collective efforts to strengthen regional integration by leveraging the RCEP as a platform for resilience and rules-based trade. The partnership has to be open for other countries to join the RCEP,” he said.
The Indonesian President’s special address was read by Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto.
At the same time, Prabowo said ASEAN must also accelerate its transition to sustainable, green energy through joint initiatives such as the ASEAN Common Carbon Framework and the ASEAN Power Grid.
He said the Indo-Pacific region, home to 60 per cent of the world’s population and generating 60 per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP), drives two-thirds of global economic growth and accounts for half of global trade and maritime transport.
Describing the region as the engine of global growth, he said by 2030, the Indo-Pacific would be home to two-thirds of the global middle class, adding that no nation or community should be left behind in this progress.
“To truly harness this momentum, our growth must be inclusive. This means ensuring equal opportunity for all to grow and giving every child access to high-quality education so that the next generation is fully equipped to thrive in an increasingly competitive and connected Indo-Pacific,” he added.
Prabowo also highlighted the importance of closer cooperation between governments and the private sector in driving shared prosperity.
“Peace and prosperity can only be achieved when governments and businesses work in concert. The private sector plays a crucial role in driving growth, innovation, and social progress. Business is not only about generating profit. It is also about creating opportunities and improving life,” he said.
Following this, Prabowo reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to collaborating with ASEAN partners to transform challenges into opportunities in the Indo-Pacific.
“Through this forum, we are committed to collaborating to transform challenges into opportunities in the Indo-Pacific, ensuring growth benefits all of our peoples. Then I invite you to become the true collaborators for peace and prosperity,” he added.
-- BERNAMA
