REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MANILA -- At the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit, which also discussed the Korean Peninsula issue, Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) urged North Korea to comply with the UN Security Council Resolution on denuclearization.

The 20th APT Summit is being held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Manila, the Philippines, on Tuesday.

According to President Jokowi, the APT is an important and strategic cooperation, in terms of politics and economy.

The APT comprises 10 ASEAN member countries, Japan, China, and South Korea.

The 20th APT Summit is being held on the sidelines of the 31st ASEAN Summit and attended by heads of state and government of ASEAN member countries and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, South Korean President Moon Jae-in, and Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang.

President Jokowi noted that the stability and prosperity of the people in the region depends heavily on how the APT and relationships among 13 countries are managed.

"In terms of politics and security, we understand that there are vulnerable points of tension, among others, in the Korean Peninsula. Indonesia and ASEAN's position is very clear on the situation in the Korean Peninsula," Jokowi pointed out.

President Jokowi emphasized that North Korea needs to immediately stop conducting tests and comply with all UN Security Council resolutions.

"In terms of economic relations, the strategic value of ASEAN's relations with Japan, South Korea, and China is definite," he said.

To further strengthen economic partnership, the ASEAN, along with Japan, South Korea, and China, should complete negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

The Indonesian government realizes the importance of eliminating or reducing trade barriers, both tariff and non-tariff.

"By upholding APT's political and economic commitments, we will realize a peaceful and prosperous East and Southeast Asia," President Jokowi remarked.

At the meeting, the APT leaders will issue two important documents: the Manila Declaration on the APT's 20th Anniversary of Cooperation and the APT ASEAN Leaders' Joint Statement on Food Security Cooperation.

Both documents represent the vision and priority of the APT cooperation and the common interest of APT countries for the benefit of the people.

The APT leaders are eager to achieve wider community development through the East Asian Economic Community by strengthening the foundation of regional cooperation.

At the summit, the ASEAN, Japanese, Chinese, and South Korean leaders will review the APT cooperation and discuss the future of the cooperation in connection with APT's 2018-2022 Working Plan that was recently adopted by the APT member countries.

In addition, the APT Leaders will exchange views on several regional and international issues on trade and investment relations, environment, and sustainable development, as well as community welfare.

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