Reuters A man shows a gold bar to costumers during the ASEAN Jewellery Expo in Jakarta May 5, 2011. Indonesias gross domestic product expanded 6.5 percent in the first quarter from a year ago, in line with expectations and driven by strong consumption and investment in Southeast Asias biggest economy. Purnomo made the remark at a meeting with editors-in-chief here on Wednesday. The meeting was called to explain the agenda of an ASEAN Defence Ministerial Meeting (ADMM) scheduled for May 19 in Jakarta.
The meeting is part of the activities carried out by Indonesia as the current chair of ASEAN. It also serves as the implementation of ASEAN three pillars which put emphasis on development of political, security and economic sectors in the quest for an ASEAN community by 2015.
In essence, the meeting would focus on efforts to create a more stable and peaceful region, he said. "We will focus on practical cooperation such as exchange of regional cooperation, settlement of dispute in the South China Sea, maritime security by realizing code of conduct among ASEAN member states in a clear manner."
Also in the agenda of the meeting would be counter-terrorism programs, informal meetings among defence and military top officials to settle a wide range of problems in the region by observing the ASEAN Charter, he said.
ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
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