Attending The G77 Summit In Havana, Foreign Minister Retno Commits Indonesia To Bring Interests To Developing Countries

Minister of Foreign Affairs (Menlu) Retno Marsudi. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Minister of Foreign Affairs (Menlu) Retno Marsudi representing President Joko Widodo attended the G77 Summit in Havana, Cuba, from 15 to 16 September.

In the event, Retno stated, Indonesia's commitment to bring the interests of developing countries in the two chairmen of the G20 and ASEAN.

"Last year, Indonesia became the president of the G20 and this year became chairman of ASEAN. This task is not easy, but thank God it can be carried out well," said Retno in a press statement, Saturday, September 16.

For information, G77 is a cooperation group of UN member countries consisting of 134 developing countries with the main agenda of advancing development cooperation.

The Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of unity and solidarity from the G77 group. Because according to him, from one crisis to another, developing countries are always the most affected.

"I also emphasize that the spirit of Bandung is becoming more relevant at this time," he said.

In his national statement, Retno also conveyed several things. First, the importance of strengthening multilateralism. He said, G77 must become a moral compound for multilateralism, solidarity and mutually beneficial partnership.

Second, emphasizing the importance of G77 encouraging efforts to strengthen development rights for developing countries, including the right to build downstream industries and become part of the global supply chain.

Retno assessed that the G77 should be able to encourage stronger access for STI for developing countries.

"Science, technology, and innovation (STI) play a very important role," explained Retno.

Third, Indonesia encourages the strengthening of STI cooperation and is ready to contribute both through the NAM Center for South- South Cooperation and cooperation in Indonesia's development.

Retno mengungkapkan, pertemuan KTT G77 di Havana telah menghasilkan satu dokumen kesepakatan yang disebut Declaration Havana.

The declaration underscores the important role of science and technology and innovation in achieving SDGs and in overcoming various global challenges.

"Then also highlight the gap in access between developing and developed countries to science and technology and innovation. And of course the commitment to strengthening southern-south cooperation, south-south and triangular in the field of science and technology and innovation," explained Retno.

On the sidelines of the G77 Summit, Foreign Minister Retno also held a bilateral meeting with the Yemeni Foreign Minister and received an update on the peace process in the country.

"Hopefully, bilateral cooperation can be increased," he said.

After leaving Havana, Foreign Minister Retno will go straight to New York to attend a series of meetings in the context of the UN General Assembly.

"Mesan-mesan yang terkait dengan kolaborasi dan kolaborasi the Global South tentu juga akan saya serangkan dalam berbagai pertemuan di New York nanti," demikian Retno Marsudi.