Asean must stay united, neutral and build resilient growth, says Indonesian finance minister

Dr Sri Mulyani Indrawati said Asean must not become a battleground for influence amid the great power rivalry between the US, China and Russia. - PHOTO: INDONESIAN FINANCE MINISTRY

JAKARTA: Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati on Friday called for Asean to stay united and neutral to demonstrate that it stands for cooperation and progress as a means to avoid becoming a battleground for influence amid the great power rivalry between the United States, China and Russia.

This can be achieved by stepping up cooperation in durable growth sectors such as digital technology, cross-border payment systems, sustainable finance, the green energy transition and electric vehicles, she told The Straits Times in an interview.