ASEAN-USA Agree To Focus Relations On Regional Stability, Post-Pandemic Recovery And Health

President Joko Widodo while attending the ASEAN Summit virtually. (Photo: Lukas/Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) expressed three hopes regarding the relationship between ASEAN and the United States (US) in the future in his speech while attending the 9th ASEAN-US Summit which was held virtually, which was attended by President Joe Biden.

First, ASEAN-US relations must be able to strengthen stability and peace in the region. According to President Jokowi, respect for international law, the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, as well as other norms and laws is key.

"Your Excellency, we want to continue to see our region become a peaceful and stable region. I believe, there will be no peace and stability in Asia without the role of ASEAN," said the President who attended the summit from the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java in a written statement Tuesday. October 26.

In this context, concrete cooperation to implement the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific in an open and inclusive manner becomes very important. Through concrete cooperation, high trust will be built, which will naturally support stability and peace.

"ASEAN hopes that the US can become one of the main partners in implementing the four priorities of AIOP cooperation, namely maritime, connectivity, SDGs and investment trade cooperation," he explained.

President Joko Widodo while attending the ASEAN Summit virtually. (Photo: Lukas/Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat)

Second, the ASEAN-US partnership must become an important pillar of post-pandemic economic recovery. According to the President, the issue of a supply chain that is not well diversified has exacerbated disruption at a time when the world is facing a crisis.

"In the future, ASEAN is ready to become an important part of the world trade supply chain. Economic integration is clearly a strength for ASEAN to become part of the world supply chain," he added.

In addition, partnerships in the green and sustainable economy must be a priority in the ASEAN-US partnership, including in the fields of technology and energy transformation.

In the run-up to COP26 in Glasgow, the debate about increasing each country's commitments is very prominent. The President views that this debate is important to be placed in the context of sustainable development.

"This debate must also be supported by a commitment to work together to fulfill commitments. Thus, we can use our energy to deal with climate change issues together and not waste energy on blaming each other," he explained.

Third, strengthening health cooperation. The pandemic has awakened the importance of investing in the health sector. According to President Jokowi, the development of national health resilience will be the basic capital of global health resilience.

"The supply chain for the production of medicines, vaccines and medical devices must be diversified, including to the Southeast Asian region," said the President.

Furthermore, President Jokowi explained that ASEAN is currently building a new health architecture. ASEAN hopes that the US will become one of the main partners in ASEAN's health resilience development.

"In closing, I would like to express my appreciation for the US vaccine support to ASEAN countries, which number more than 30 million. Efforts to achieve equal access to vaccines for all countries will be the key to speeding the world out of the pandemic," he said.

To note, Indonesia is currently the coordinator of the ASEAN-US cooperation. President Joko Widodo was given the first opportunity to speak to deliver a summary of the ASEAN Joint Statement.