REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia remains committed to maintaining world peace through developing state defense architecture to create security, peace, and stability and improving regional welfare. It was an integral part of its national interests, Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu stated.

"By creating security, peace, and stability in the region, economic development will increasingly become conducive, and accordingly, the national economic growth will increase," he noted while paying a courtesy call on US Secretary of Defense James Mattis in Washington D.C. on Tuesday.

In his official statement made available to Antara on Wednesday, Ryacudu stated that the Indonesian commitment was relevant to the US defense policy "A Good Fit for Our Times" that emphasizes defense development for peace purposes.

During the meeting, Ryacudu remarked that Indonesia agreed with the concept of Free and Open Indo Pacific (FOIP) policy that proves capable of playing a significant role in building security, peace, and stability in the region by prioritizing the aspect of economic development.

Also read: Recalibration of regional security important: Ryacudu

"Indonesia agrees with the concept of the FOIP policy that recognizes the importance of ASEAN's main regional construction position in the region," he stated.

At the meeting, they also discussed several security issues, including the increasingly conducive situation in the South China Sea and the Korean Peninsula. To this end, Indonesia expressed hope that the United States would continue to support security, peace, and stability in the two regions.

"We must together maintain the positive momentum in the South China Sea to remain conducive, so we can accommodate common interests in the waters," he noted.

Indonesia also expected the United States to continue its diplomacy to reconcile the two Koreas and appealed to all sides to not be incited by issues that may trigger a conflict. The two officials also discussed joint efforts to fight terrorism.

"The threat of terrorism and radicalism are quite real and need common attention and action to deal with it," Ryacudu emphasized.

In response, Mattis stated that the United States is ready to support Indonesia's effort to fight terrorism. The United States remains committed to strengthening and increasing defense cooperation with Indonesia at various levels.

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