Encourages International Institution Reform, Foreign Minister Sugiono: We Must Take Fast And Right Steps

JAKARTA - Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono said the BRICS economic cooperation organization must move quickly and precisely to realize reforms while attending the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting (FMM) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday.

Foreign Minister Sugiono conveyed this in a national statement at the second session of a meeting with the theme 'Reformation of International Institutions for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance'.

In this session, Foreign Minister Sugiono underlined the urgency to make multilateralism more inclusive, transparent, reliable and responsive to global challenges.

Foreign Minister Sugiono emphasized the importance of reforming global institutions, including encouraging the membership expansion of the UN Security Council, strengthening the voices of developing countries in international financial institutions.

Furthermore, the Indonesian Foreign Minister also emphasized the importance of strengthening the role of WHO (World Health Organization) in building a strong global health system, especially facing a pandemic and a global health crisis.

Not only in the health sector, Indonesia also encourages reforms to the World Trade Organization (WTO) so that it is based on the interests of its member countries.

Foreign Minister Sugiono stressed that BRICS must be a pioneer in realizing a world that is fairer, more peaceful and sustainable.

"We must move from the vision towards real implementation by taking quick and appropriate steps to realize reform," he said, in a statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tuesday, April 29.

On the same occasion, Indonesia also announced its commitment to join the New Development Bank as a form of support for expanding access to development financing for Global South countries.

Previously, in the first session of the meeting of Foreign Minister Sugiono emphasized that BRICS must be at the forefront of fighting for international law and no one is above the law.

It is known that the BRICS FMM which was held in Rio de Janeiro on April 28-29, 2005 became the first FMM to be attended by the Indonesian Foreign Minister since Indonesia became a full member of the BRICS in early January this year.

As Chair of BRICS this year, Brazil has the theme "Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance".

FMM this time will discuss various aspects of preparation for the BRICS Summit (Summit), especially the output documents that are still being negotiated by BRICS member countries.

The BRICS Foreign Minister's meeting this time is also expected to produce a Joint Statement that reflects joint commitments in the fields of politics, security, economy, development, reforms of global governance, and various other issues.

BRICS was founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining in 2011. On January 1, 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates became full members.

Earlier this year, Brazil as the 2025 BRICS Presidency earlier this week announced the acceptance of Indonesia as a member of BRICS.

On the sidelines of the 2025 BRICS FMM, the Indonesian Foreign Minister has held a bilateral meeting with the Brazilian Foreign Minister, as well as a pull-aside meeting with the Ethiopian Foreign Minister and the Minister of State for International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to discuss strengthening cooperation, both in the bilateral context and in the BRICS.