President Jokowi: Global Solidarity Needs To Be Revived To Improve Cooperation

President Jokowi opened the 2nd HLF-MSP and IAF in Bali. (Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said that global solidarity needs to be revived to increase South-South and South-South cooperation, one of the four things he emphasized when opening the 2nd Multi-State Partnership High Forum (HLF-MSP) and the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF) which was held in Badung, Bali, Monday.

"We all want to create positive changes in the midst of a world full of challenges, both challenges related to economic slowdown, unemployment and inflation rates that have not improved, as well as continued geopolitical tensions that have caused many casualties and disrupted the global supply chain," said President Jokowi, launching a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Monday 2 September.

However, the President continued, the decline in international solidarity, the spirit of multilateralism is increasingly being ruled out and the widening of fragmentation is unfortunate.

According to President Jokowi, in the end, developing countries are the most affected, where millions of people in developing countries are the ones who experience the most difficulties.

"In fact, there are only six years left to 2030 and only 17 percent of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) target has been achieved," said President Jokowi.

"Therefore, we need a new direction and vision, we need a new strategy, we need new tactical steps to realize fairer and more inclusive development for developing countries," he continued.

In this regard, President Jokowi emphasized four points. First, achieving the SDG target must remain the main focus of global development, which is aligned with national and regional development priorities including the Africa Agenda 2063 and supported by the Multi-Pihak Partnership.

Second, Indonesia is committed to being part of a global solution to defend the interests of Global South, as well as being a bridge builder in fighting for equality, justice and solidarity in accelerating the achievement of SDG.

"This is Indonesia's consistent commitment since the Asia Africa Conference 69 years ago," said President Jokowi.

Third, Indonesia is ready to partner with anyone, especially with the African region as the key to the global development agenda.

The results of the Indonesia-Africa partnership so far are very real which brings a rapid increase in trading volume and various trade agreement deals.

This year's Indonesia-Africa Forum has recorded a business agreement of up to 3.5 billion US dollars, almost 6 times the first IAF in 2018.

"Fourth, global solidarity needs to be revived to increase South-South cooperation, to increase North-South cooperation so that we can complement each other, can work hand in hand in overcoming global challenges," explained President Jokowi.

"And with the same spirit next year, Indonesia will hold a Platinum Jubilee of the Asian African Conference, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Asian Africa Summit," he added.