Jokowi: ASEAN Partnership-India Supervisor Of Indo-Pacific Stability

The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo encourages the ASEAN-India partnership to focus on three things, namely making the Indo-Pacific region a stable, peaceful and prosperous area, working together in the health sector and the collaboration of the food sector.

"Indo-Pacific is a strategic area, so this area does not escape the rivalry that if it is not managed properly it will become an open conflict. ASEAN India must be a 'guardian' for stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific," said President Jokowi at Phnom Penh, Cambodia, quoted from Antara, Saturday 12 November.

President Jokowi conveyed this when attending the 19th ASEAN Summit at the Sokha Hotel, Phnom Penh which was also attended by ASEAN leaders and Indian Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.

The President reminded that the Indo-Pacific must be filled with concrete cooperation so that Indonesia invites India to be active in the "Indo Pacific Infrastructure Forum" which will be held next year when Indonesia becomes chairman of ASEAN.

"Second, health cooperation, including cooperation in the field of procurement of raw materials for drugs and medicines," said the President.

President Jokowi appealed not to cut the supply chain of medicinal raw materials and medicines again in the future.

"Third, cooperation in the food sector. If this is combined, then the number of ASEAN and Indian people reaches around 2 billion people, we must work together so that the fertilizer crisis does not occur," said the President.

The President added, based on the "Global Crisis Response Group" report which states that if a fertilizer crisis occurs, it will have an impact on rice production next year and affect more than 3 billion people.

"ASEAN-India must be a driving force so that the fertilizer crisis can be avoided," concluded President Jokowi.

Also accompanying President Jokowi in the 19th ASEAN Summit, India, namely Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi and Minister of State Secretary Pratikno.