Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the Opening Ceremony of Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum Summit, Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC), Bali Province, October 11, 2023

Your Excellencies, Leaders and Heads of AIS Forum Delegations, Leaders and Delegates of international organizations,

Welcome to Bali.

Indonesia is honored to host the historic event of the first AIS Forum Summit, which aims to promote cooperation between archipelagic countries and island countries connected by the oceans.

The oceans do not separate land; they unite and connect land. All archipelagic countries and island states are facing interconnected and complicated challenges, including sea level rise, marine resource management, and marine pollution.

Littering on the land will not produce waste that will move to other parts of the world, but littering in the oceans will probably do. Collaboration and solidarity between archipelagic countries and island countries are crucial to produce strategic, concrete, and tactical measures in solving our common problems.

The summit serves as a strategic opportunity to determine the direction of future collaboration on three main areas, including solidarity, equality, and inclusiveness principles; priority on concrete cooperation for the needs of the recipients; and a strong and dynamic cooperation framework to surmount future challenges.

Your Excellencies,

Indonesia remains consistent in voicing the interests of archipelagic countries and developing countries, be it at the G20 Summit last year, or in the ASEAN Summit and the AIS Forum Summit this year.

Indonesia is also committed to preparing grants to be used for the interests of archipelagic countries and developing countries.

Indonesia would like to invite all attending countries to continue strengthening unity and enhancing collaboration in today’s divided world. Let us walk and work together.

I hereby open the First Summit of the Archipelagic and Island States Forum.

Before we start the closed session of the plenary, I respectfully ask journalists to leave the meeting room.

I thank you.

(RI/EP)