Foreign Minister Calls on MIKTA countries to Synergize Recovery Efforts
Foreign Affairs Minister joins the MIKTA forum through a teleconference. (Photo by: MoFA)
Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi has called on MIKTA (Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Turkey, and Australia) member countries to recover together and become stronger by synergizing recovery efforts through the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs).
During the 17th MIKTA foreign ministerial level meeting held via a teleconference, Retno delivered three main issues, among others:
The COVID-19 pandemic has not only caused a global health crisis but also development and humanitarian crises which cannot be resolved by any country.
Therefore, international cooperation and multilateralism are increasingly crucial to jointly seek solutions, she said.
Regarding the relevance of MIKTA, the Minister said today the world is facing challenges that are very different from those faced when the MIKTA was first established in 2013. To that end, in order to remain relevant, MIKTA must be able to adapt, be responsive, and be part of the solution, she added.
According to her, MIKTA also needs to encourage concrete results both in seeking solutions to various global issues and in providing welfare for its own people.
The time has also come for MIKTA to work together to rebuild the economy hit hard by the pandemic and this is the right time to boost economic and trade cooperation among fellow MIKTA countries, she added.
Retno also pointed out that MIKTA must become a “positive force” to guard multilateralism so it can be maintained and be able to have concrete results, particularly in these trying times.
The meeting was the first foreign ministerial level meeting held by South Korea as the MIKTA coordinator in 2020. It was aimed at discussing MIKTA’s steps going forward, including plans for holding the MIKTA Summit, as well as efforts to encourage multilateral cooperation in tackling the wide impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, among others, to maintain trade stability and global supply chains, mitigate impacts, protect the vulnerable, and speed up and distribute vaccines.
The meeting also agreed to the MIKTA Foreign Ministers’ Statement on Elections held at the UN General Assembly which contains MIKTA’s views on a number of elections in the UN bodies, including Indonesia’s election as a member of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the 2021-2023 term.
Established in 2013 on the sidelines of the United Nations’ General Assembly, MIKTA is a “middle-power” consultation forum that voices various solutions and challenges of the world as a “bridge builder” and MIKTA’s five members have taken turns being the group’s coordinators every year. (MoFA/EN)
Translator: Muhardi
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas
