REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi opined that Indonesian diplomats should demonstrate toughness in realizing national interests and be polite in communication in addition to having competency. Hence, a diplomat should be tough and should not complain much, she noted.

The message concerned was presented by the minister during a general lecture at the opening of the 40th batch of the Foreign Affairs School at the Educating and Training Center. On the occasion, Foreign Minister Marsudi also highlighted the protection of Indonesian citizens and economic diplomacy as two aspects that need special attention from participants that are prospective Indonesian diplomats.

With regard to priority issues, the minister also elaborated on the importance of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the context of the Indo-Pacific Cooperation.

In her view, Indonesian diplomats should also not give up easily and always innovate to create new breakthroughs in a bid to achieve goals in the field of foreign policy.

Furthermore, she believes that the ASEAN's presence in the global context needs to be further intensified.

In addition to discussing the issue of the ASEAN, Foreign Minister Marsudi also reviewed the latest developments in the Middle East region and the future of multilateralism.

The minister stressed on the importance of increasing Indonesia's presence in areas that have not been adequately addressed, such as Africa and the South Pacific.

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