RRI.CO.ID, Manila – Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono emphasized the need to further strengthen the ASEAN-European Union partnership in response to increasingly interconnected global challenges through enhanced cooperation in trade, energy, and human resource development.

"ASEAN and the European Union share a common responsibility to preserve peace, strengthen stability, and deliver prosperity for the people of both regions," Sugiono said during the ASEAN-European Union Post-Ministerial Conference (PMC) in Manila, the Philippines, on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.

Sugiono said ASEAN and the European Union, representing more than one billion people and around one-fifth of the global economy, share a common interest in reinforcing multilateralism and upholding an open, fair, and rules-based international order. He also stressed the importance of the consistent application of international law as a foundation for global peace and stability.

In the economic sector, Indonesia called for progress toward an ASEAN-European Union free trade area by building on the momentum created by bilateral trade agreements between the European Union and several ASEAN member states.

According to Sugiono, deeper economic integration would strengthen trade and investment while enhancing the resilience of supply chains across both regions.

In the energy sector, Indonesia encouraged the European Union to continue supporting ASEAN's energy transition while ensuring energy security, affordability, and reliable energy supplies.

"There are broader opportunities for investment in energy infrastructure, accompanied by technology transfer, technical cooperation, and capacity building," Sugiono said.

He also underscored the importance of strengthening people-to-people ties as the foundation of the ASEAN-European Union partnership through greater investment in human resource development.

"The ASEAN-European Union partnership is built not only by governments but also by our people. Therefore, investment in human capital development through scholarships, training programs, and people-to-people exchanges must continue to be strengthened," he said.

Sugiono added that 2027 will mark a major milestone in ASEAN-European Union relations, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the partnership. The occasion will be marked by an ASEAN-European Union Summit, which is expected to serve as a platform for advancing a closer, more relevant, and more impactful partnership for the people of both regions.