ASEAN economic integration must be beneficial for people: minister

ASEAN economic integration must be beneficial for people: minister.

JAKARTA -- The economic integration of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries should be beneficial for the people in the region, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Retno LP Marsudi.

During her speech to mark the 49th anniversary of the ASEAN, which was held at the ASEAN Secretariat here on Monday, Retno said it is the people, who will serve as the beneficiaries of the ASEAN. "From an economic perspective, we have to ensure that the longstanding evolution must bring benefits to the people of ASEAN member countries," she affirmed, Monday.

According to the minister, all activities carried out by ASEAN member countries, especially concerning the economy, should provide benefits that can be felt by the people in the ASEAN region. "We are trying to reflect on what we have done in the course of these 49 years, such as in the ASEAN Community, but much more still needs to be done," the foreign affairs minister stated.

Retno noted that there were challenges related to the situation in the region apart from the global ones that need to be faced by the ASEAN member countries.

"ASEAN is our home. There are many challenges related to the situation in the region and the world. Therefore, every member of the ASEAN should really be able to keep our home safe, so that we can create and maintain peace and stability in the region and the world," she affirmed.

Further, Retno added that every ASEAN member country should be committed and contribute to creating peace and stability in the region. "Stability in the region is something that cannot just be created, but it should be established and maintained over time," she emphasized.