JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) attended the 36th ASEAN Summit virtually. During the meeting, Jokowi emphasized two things that ASEAN countries need to do in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. One of them is strengthening cooperation to accelerate economic recovery.
This was conveyed by the President through the words of Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in a video statement that was broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat YouTube account, Friday, June 26.
"The president emphasized 2 main things, first the importance of ASEAN in strengthening cooperation to accelerate economic recovery," said Retno.
According to Retno, at this meeting, Jokowi warned of the economic conditions that had worsened due to the pandemic. The former governor of DKI Jakarta, Retno continued, also delivered the results of the IMF report two days ago which revised world economic growth from -3 percent to -4.9 percent.
Based on this situation, Jokowi said it was important for all Asean countries to work even harder so that the economy in the region could grow again quickly.
"To regrow the ASEAN economy, the president emphasized that connectivity is the key. Good connectivity of goods, services, and connectivity of economic actors can be revived as soon as possible," said Retno.
He also said that Jokowi asked ASEAN to begin arranging travel corridors carefully, measured and gradually starting with the Essential Business Travel Corridor.
The ASEAN Travel Corridor is important because in addition to accelerating ASEAN economic recovery, it is also to show the economic value of ASEAN both in the region and internationally.
"The president said the ASEAN leaders should assign ministers to discuss this ASEAN travel corridor," he said.
Furthermore, the President also emphasized the importance of digital connectivity in the form of e-commerce, e-health, and e-learning applications. Including, expanding access for MSMEs to enter the digital platform.
"In addition, in his statement, President Jokowi emphasized that the signing of ARCEP (ASEAN Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) this year has a strategic meaning for economic recovery and momentum for strengthening economic resilience in the post-COVID-19 region," said Retno.
Another thing that Jokowi emphasized at the meeting was the importance of strengthening regional cooperation in the form of regionalism. This is because regional cooperation is important to restore hope for multitarianism that is effective, efficient and just.
"The cooperation between ASEAN and the ASEAN Led Mechanism can be a driving force for regional stability and peace in the new normal era," he said.
"ASEAN must be a guardian so that our region does not become a power projection area for major countries and ASEAN must become a subject and not an object in global politics. ASEAN unity and centrality are the keys," added Retno.
In the context of this regional cooperation, Jokowi underlined the importance of continuing to strengthen the Asean Outlook on The Indopacific which prioritizes inclusivity and cooperation.
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