President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has said that Indonesia will continue to encourage the settlement of international disputes, including the ongoing tug-of-war over the South China Sea, through peaceful means.

"Indonesia has continued to be actively involved in promoting the settlement of South China Sea disputes through negotiation and peaceful efforts following the decision of the International Arbitration Court in The Hague on this issue," Jokowi said in his address to the nation at the House of Representatives in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He was referring to the tribunal’s decision to reject China’s argument that it enjoyed historic rights over most of the South China Sea.

After Jokowi's speech, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi reiterated Indonesia's position in the South China Sea dispute, saying the country aimed to maintain peace and stability in the area.

"It is clear and has always been consistently expressed by the President," Retno asserted.

She further explained that the ministry's ASEAN Cooperation directorate general had held a meeting with Chinese authorities to discuss two critical issues, namely the Code of Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUSE) joint statement and guidelines of hotline communication.

"These are issues that have been long discussed, such as how to set up hotlines that seamen may use if something happens at sea and so on," the minister said. (ebf)