REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton thanked Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marty Natalegawa for Indonesian leadership in ASEAN and resolving South China Sea disputes. The US is also looking forward to Indonesia hosting APEC in 2013. 

"The Foreign Minister's personal leadership has helped lay the groundwork for diplomacy between ASEAN and China as it relates to the South China Sea," Secretary Clinton said on her remark after US-Indonesia third Joint Commission Meeting in Washington.

The US, she said, would continue to support ASEAN's six point principles believed to reduce tensions and pave the way for a comprehensive code of conduct for addressing disputes without threats, coercion, or use of force.

"We are also coordinating efforts to further develop south-south and triangular cooperation, such as enhancing disaster preparedness in Myanmar and convening a conference on women’s empowerment," she said in a press release from the US embassy in Jakarta. 

Six working groups

The third Joint Commission meeting highlighted actions conducted by six Working Groups covering democracy and civil society, security, trade and investment, energy, education, and climate and environment. Minister Natalegawa said that every Working Group must continue to be enhanced, continue to sustain the pace of its work.

Natalegawa said Working Group on Education noted the improvement of US scholarship for Indonesian students. Natalegawa also encouraged the joint research between US and Indonesia universities.

Working Group on Democracy and Civil Society reported on triangular cooperation with third countries in areas including democracy and peace building. Working Group on Security facilitated the improvement of law enforcement cooperation to address security related threats posed by transnational crimes.

Meanwhile, Working Group on Trade and Investment underscored positively the 15 percent increase in trade value between Indonesia and the United States from 2010-2011. Working Group on Energy committed for an energy efficiency and renewable energy program to facilitate the deployment of clean energy technology in Indonesia. Working Group on Climate and Environment highlighted a bilateral work plan for Enhancing Capacity for Low Emission Development Strategies (EC-LEDS) and cooperation on the Indonesian Climate Change Center, particularly on peat land management. 

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