Jakarta (Antara Bali) -- Indonesia raised the subject of economic diplomacy at the 10th annual meeting of the ASEAN+3, which is being held in Bali from April 8 to 10.
Head of the Training and Education Center of the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry Soehardjono Sastromihardjo inaugurated the meeting in Nusa Dua in Bali.
Sastromihardjo said that the economic diplomacy theme of the ASEAN+3 meeting was in line with the Indonesian government's program. "The main subject being raised at the event deals with identifying ways in which diplomacy can serve to enhance the economy of the ASEAN region," he stated in a press release received here on Thursday.
Furthermore, the ASEAN+3 nations have played an important role in the economic development of the region, which is reflected in the trade value among them that amounts to US$726 billion.
The ASEAN+3 trade value contributes 30 percent to the total trade in the region. The cooperation also created employment opportunities in the region. "Potential investment opportunities and the development of micro, small and medium enterprise can eradicate poverty and improve the prosperity of citizens," Sastromihardjo affirmed.
Moreover, he added that the "e-learning" method was also discussed at the meeting to train personnel to be efficient and to ensure effective learning.
"The 10th Annual Meeting of Deans and Directors of Diplomatic Training Institutions of ASEAN+3" was initiated by Indonesia, Thailand, China, Japan and South Korea, besides the International Forum on Diplomatic Training, in 2003 in Dubrovnik, Croatia. (WDY)
