(Adds details from joint declaration in paragraphs 9-12)
By Stanley Widianto and Ananda Teresia
JAKARTA, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Defence ministers in ASEAN called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a durable solution to the crisis in Myanmar during the opening of a regional meeting in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Defence ministers from the Asian bloc are attending the 2-day meeting alongside key players in the Indo-Pacific as major powers jostle for regional influence, and as conflicts deepen from Myanmar to the Middle East.
Opening the annual get-together, Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto said the world's largest Muslim-majority nation was deeply saddened by the deteriorating conditions in Gaza, particularly the "horrid" humanitarian situation.
"Indonesia's stance is clear and firm. We push and call for immediate cessation of hostilities and the immediate setting up of corridors for humanitarian assistance," he said in his opening remarks.
Visiting Washington this week, Indonesian President Joko Widodo pressed U.S. President Joe Biden to do more to end Israel's war with Hamas.
Malaysian Defence Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan reiterated the calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, saying that Malaysia "condemns terrorism in all forms", including taking people as hostages and the bombing of civilian homes.
As chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year, Prabowo also urged his counterparts to push for concrete progress toward a peaceful solution in Myanmar, which has been riven by chaos and violence since a 2021 coup.
The annual meeting comes as conflict rages in the Middle East and Ukraine and as tensions ratchet up in disputed waters in the South China Sea, where China is accused of aggression against the Philippines, which has U.S. backing and seeks to boost its military ties with Japan.
It also comes as Myanmar's generals are facing their biggest test this week since taking power in a 2021 coup, with insurgent groups battling the junta gathering momentum in several parts of the country, including the states of Rakhine and Chin.
In a joint declaration, the defence ministers also urged "all parties concerned" to cease all violence in Myanmar and urged "full implementation" of the ASEAN "Five-Point Consensus" peace plan agreed to in 2021.
The defence ministers also underscored the need to maintain peace in the South China Sea and to exercise "self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability."