Firm! President Jokowi Invites Leaders Not to Create New Wars in East Asia

President Jokowi opened the 18th Summit in East Asia. (Source: Screenshot of the YouTube channel of the Presidential Secretariat)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo firmly called on the leaders of countries in East Asia not to create new wars in the region, instead to create peace, stability and prosperity, when opening the 18th East Asia Summit, Thursday.

Starting his remarks at the opening of the Summit, President Jokowi emphasized that the leaders attending this Summit have the same great responsibility to create peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

"We all have the same responsibility not to create new conflicts, not to create new tensions, not to create new wars," said President Jokowi, Thursday, September 7.

"And at the same time we also have the responsibility to reduce the heated tension, to melt the frozen atmosphere, to create space for dialogue to bridge existing differences," President Jokowi continued.

President Jokowi said that the many words of peace and stability that were issued at each meeting showed that basically all parties were aware that peace and stability were the main keys to achieving prosperity.

"ASEAN is determined to make this region the epicenturm of growth, so that ASEAN will continue to work to play the role of a contributor to peace and stability," said President Jokowi.

President Jokowi said ASEAN would appreciate it if the East Asia Summit could agree on a statement at the leader level regarding the determination to continue to make this region the epicenter of growth.

"This is where the world community will judge whether we are leaders who have wisdom, to make the world a better place for all," said President Jokowi.

"I really ask all leaders of the East Asia Summit to make this forum a place to strengthen collaboration, a place to strengthen cooperation, not to sharpen rivalries," he continued.

"I invite all leaders to show wisdom, show their leadership, so that this meeting is successful and has real benefits for the people of the world," stressed President Jokowi.

It is known that the East Asia Summit which is regularly held every year is attended by ASEAN members along with the United States, Russia, China, South Korea, New Zealand, Japan, India and Australia. This year, invited guests were Cook Island and Bangladesh.