Indonesia Officially Kicks Off First-Ever AIS Forum Summit

President Jokowi on Wednesday (10/11) opens Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum at Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC), Bali Province. (Photo by: Media Center of AIS Forum/M Agung Rajasa/rwa)

Indonesia Wednesday (10/11) officially began the first ever summit of the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum held at Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC) in the country’s resort island of 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 lands,”  Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo remarked during the opening ceremony of the two-day summit.

According to the President, 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, the President said.

“Collaboration and solidarity between archipelagic countries and island countries are crucial to produce strategic, concrete, and tactical measures in solving our common problems,” the President said.

The summit, the President added, 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.

“Indonesia remains consistent in voicing the interests of archipelagic countries and developing countries, be it at the G20 Summit last year, the ASEAN Summit and the AIS Forum Summit this year,” the President said, adding that the country is also committed to preparing grant 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,” the President remarked. (TGH/UN) (RI/EP)