Indonesia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi invited South Korea to celebrate its 35 years of ties with the ASEAN by contributing to the creation of a suitable ecosystem for electric vehicles (EV) in Southeast Asia.
At the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with the Republic of Korea in Vientiane, Laos, on Friday, Marsudi highlighted the importance of taking steps to implement the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Developing Regional EV Ecosystem, which was produced during Indonesia’s 2023 ASEAN chairmanship.
“In order to become a green region in the future, it is vital that the ASEAN enhance its capacity to utilize and create advanced technologies, especially EV,” she remarked, citing her office’s statement received in Jakarta.
The minister underscored that the Southeast Asian region had been witnessing positive trends in its EV market, with the value having hit USD1.14 billion this year.
She added that the value is projected to propel to USD4.70 billion in 2029.
On that note, Marsudi suggested that ASEAN and South Korea work together to develop the region’s EV ecosystem by leveraging Southeast Asian countries’ comparative advantages and boosting investments in the EV sector.
Apart from EV-related matters, the ASEAN and South Korean foreign affairs ministers attending the conference also discussed the prolonged tension in the Korean Peninsula.
“It is crucial to take firm yet prudent steps to address the situation in the Korean Peninsula while ensuring that communication and dialogue channels remain viable,” Marsudi stressed.
She added that ASEAN and South Korea must play a prominent role in encouraging development in the region.
The minister further remarked that both parties should strengthen their commitment to paving the way for an open, transparent, and inclusive regional architecture.
Marsudi also made the most of the conference to encourage South Korea to affirm its support for Palestine by pushing for a permanent ceasefire between Hamas and Israel while advocating uninterrupted distribution of humanitarian aid.
“I hope that South Korea will soon recognize Palestine’s statehood and voice support for the country’s effort to become a full member of the United Nations,” she remarked.
The ministerial conference was also organized to prepare for the launch of the ASEAN-South Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership at the 25th ASEAN-South Korea Summit in October.