Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (Photo: Huu Chien/ VNA)

Retno said that Indonesia transferred its ASEAN chair to Laos to continue addressing the Myanmar issue this year. Indonesia hopes that no side will take actions to hinder the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus. Retno emphasized that Indonesia is ready to help Myanmar end its crisis by coordinating with Laos, as ASEAN Chair this year, and Malaysia, ASEAN chair the year after that, under the troika mechanism. All parties will coordinate on providing humanitarian aid and pushing comprehensive dialogue.

At the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (AMM) in Luang Prabang, Laos, on Monday, the participants voiced support for Thailand’s initiative to establish a humanitarian corridor to provide aid to people displaced by the conflict in Myanmar.

ASEAN Foreign Ministers welcomed Myanmar’s representative to the ASEAN Retreat, and expressed confidence that increased contact will help Myanmar and ASEAN members and the international community better understand each other.

Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara said the provision of aid would begin at the end of February after the Myanmar military junta and the Thai government designate areas as a connecting corridor. The ASEAN Coordination Center for Humanitarian Assistance in Disaster Management (AHA Center) will oversee the humanitarian mission.