Indonesia had emphasized the importance of strengthening institutional capacity and effectiveness of the ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) in dealing with health and food security issues, said the country Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi on Wednesday. Health challenges will remain in the future, therefore, ensuring ASEAN readiness to address current and future health challenges is very important,Marsudi said at the plenary session of the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Existing regional mechanisms must be fully utilized, including accelerating operations and ensuring the availability of funds for the ASEAN Center for Public Health Emergency and Emerging Diseases, which will have centers in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, Marsudi added.

Regarding food security, Indonesia has submitted concept notes on the importance of strengthening the ASEAN Plus Three (China, Japan, and South Korea) Emergency Rice Reserve Agreement to propose the number of earmarked rice stocks and the addition of other types of food commodities. Furthermore, Indonesia emphasized the importance of continuing to mainstream women, peace, and security issues in the ASEAN work agenda and expressed its hope to expedite the process of Timor-Leste membership in the regional organization.  Enditem