F

oreign Minister Marty Natalegawa has called on Southeast Asian nations to work harder to create an ASEAN Community in 2015 amid concern regarding China's rise and renewed initiatives from Japan and Australia for new regional architecture.

Marty said in his first annual foreign policy speech Friday that Indonesia was set to enhance its conciliatory role in a world that remains divided, despite the enormous challenges it now faces: from the financial crisis to the global pandemic and what he called the "unfinished business" of climate change.

But he also stressed that, "Indonesia's preoccupation with various global challenges in 2010 will not be at the expense of its commitment to contribute to the peace, stability and prosperity of its own region."

Marty said the concept of the ASEAN Community was forged to anticipate the recurring debate on the creation of East Asia or Asia Pacific communities, rekindled last year by Tokyo and Canberra respectively.

"For Indonesia, there cannot be an East Asian Community or an Asia Pacific without an ASEAN Community as its core constituent.

"Thus, the ASEAN Community, the various *ASEAN +' processes, the ARF (ASEAN Regional Forum), APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) and East Asia Summit are to pave the way for the creation of an East Asian Community with ASEAN playing a central role," the minister said.

"The urgency of concrete action to create an ASEAN Community in 2015 cannot be underestimated."

The political and economic discrepancies in Southeast Asia have cast doubts the grouping can achieve its goal in time. Meanwhile, the mounting clout of China in the region has made the ten ASEAN countries apprehensive.

In a move that clearly showcases wariness of China, Indonesia has proposed the regional grouping postpone the full implementation of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Marty, however, made clear that Indonesia would remain committed to the agreement it made with Asia's new powerhouse economy.

The year 2010 is predicted to be a tough year and therefore Indonesia will retain its focus on multilateral diplomacy, Marty said, urging the reform of the UN, especially its Security Council, to "better reflect the contemporary world".

"Indonesia will continue to be at the forefront in promoting the role of the UN in tackling the global crisis and at the same time calling for its reform."

With a tagline of "a thousand friends, zero enemies," Indonesia aims to strengthen the existing ties with countries around the world to a higher level, with renewed and focused efforts to promote economic diplomacy.

"The promotion of trade, investment and tourism is critical to ensure that foreign policy provides a tangible contribution to our development efforts. The foreign policy machinery will be galvanized for this purpose," Marty said.