Minister Emphasizes Importance of Global Cooperation to Address COVID-19
Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani speaks at the virtual Governors’ Seminar: Developing Asia beyond the Pandemic” in the series of the 53rd ADB Annual Meeting, Friday (18/9). (Photo by: Ministry of Finance)
The Indonesian Government continues to enhance communication and collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) member states to address the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on health and economic sectors, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani said.
“The current situation is very complex and cause problems for many countries. This is a serious global issue. We are facing the climate change and now the COVID-19 pandemic; viruses know no borders,” the Minister said as a speaker of the virtual Governors’ Seminar: Developing Asia beyond the Pandemic” which is held in the series of the 53rd ADB Annual Meeting, Friday (18/9).
During the global financial crisis in 2008-2009, the Minister added, all countries joined hands to rescue the economy since every country faced the same problems, challenges, and threats on their economy. However, this time the countries are dealing with the ongoing global change, climate change, and also the pandemic at the same time.
“I think all countries have instincts to close their borders (due to Covid-19) and try to prioritize their respective national interests. That is why I’m saying that this is a very challenging situation. Therefore, all leaders must work together,” she said adding that cooperation on COVID-19 handling is more than finding a vaccine but joining hands to recover global economy.
Multilateral organizations, she added, play important role on this matter. The World Health Organization (WHO), for example, must take charge of the handling of this global pandemic.
“In addition, multilateral financing organizations such as the ADB, IMF (International Monetary Fund), and the World Bank must cooperate to rebuild global trust in recovering the global economy,” she stated.
On that occasion, the Minister also shared her view that after the pandemic is over, there will be a new globalization age which is embodied from global cooperation.
“This pandemic has taught us many things. We cannot work alone though we are a big country. We always need global cooperation. Thus, I hope after the pandemic, there will be a new form of globalization which is more inclusive, caring, not only prioritizing growth but also sustainability, so we can get more from this cooperation. This is my optimistic view,” the Minister firmly said. (Ministry of Finance/EN)
Translated by : Rany Anjany
Reviewed by: Mia Medyana
