maaxx.ca

Jakarta –

The 55th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting (AEM) in Semarang continued on the second day. There are a number of meeting agendas, for example the 19th MFA-EU Consultation Meeting (ASEAN and EU Economy Ministers Consultation) and the MFA-Hong Consultation Meeting Kong, China.

But there was an unusual moment at Sunday’s WEA meeting. monitoring detik.com on site, there was no joint photo shoot conducted by AEM with the European Union and Hong Kong. Even though on the same day, during the 12th AEM-Canada Consultation, AEM and Canadian representatives stepped onto the podium and took a group photo after delivering their speech.

The photo op usually takes place after Minister of Commerce Zulkifli Hasan, as MEA Chairman, and representatives of ASEAN partners deliver remarks. In this regard, Deputy Minister of Commerce (Wamendag) Jerry Sambuaga opened his voice.

Jerry explained that there was an AEM photo shoot with Hong Kong but it was done at the end of the meeting. It was also to close the series of events that day.

“There’s a fitting that Hong Kong is there, technically, so the photo is on the back. It’s on the back as well as the closing of the series of events today. There’s a group photo and earlier Hong Kong’s Commerce Secretary was very enthusiastic about what they conveyed and we reflect the bilateral relationship that has endured and is intertwined,” he said during the confirmation, quoted Sunday (20/ 8/2023).

But for the photo shoot with the European Union, Jerry isn’t sure. Because he claimed he wasn’t in the meeting room.

“Let’s check, if earlier I was in the toilet because I didn’t see it,” he continued.

Regarding the meeting with Hong Kong, Commerce Minister Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) said Hong Kong wants to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) or a free trade agreement involving ASEAN and partner countries.

RCEP involves ten ASEAN member countries, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and five partner countries, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. Zulhas said he was ready to fight for Hong Kong’s interest in joining RCEP.

“Indonesia appreciates Hong Kong’s interest in joining RCEP. We noted that earlier, he wants to join us. Later, we will fight together for that,” he said on the sidelines of the meeting. 55th AEM series in Semarang, Sunday (20/8/2023).

During the meeting with the European Union, the discussion focused on efforts to strengthen cooperation in the areas of digitalisation, green technologies and green services. The issue of supply chain resilience was also discussed as the Russian-Ukrainian war continued.

(he/kil)