President Jokowi: ASEAN Must Become Anchor of World Peace
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo opens the 2023 ASEAN Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue Conference, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Jakarta, Monday (08/07) (Photo by: PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Jay)
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states stand together with a shared commitment to make ASEAN the anchor of world peace and set an example of tolerance and unity amidst global conflicts, according to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
“I believe that the ASEAN community has the potential to be a catalyst for world peace, fostering a caring and sharing environment. It can also serve as the epicentrum of growth and epicentrum of harmony in order to maintain regional stability and global peace,” the President said at the opening of the 2023 ASEAN Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue Conference, at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Jakarta, Monday (08/07).
The President went on to say that the world community is currently starting to become less religious as shown by this year’s Ipsos Global Religion survey which states that 29 percent of 19,731 respondents from 26 countries identified as agnostics and atheists.
Based on a research conducted by the Pew Research Center, he said, the ASEAN community recorded the most people believing in God. As much as 96 percent of total respondents in Indonesia believe that good morals are determined by belief in God.
“ASEAN has proved that ASEAN countries, including Indonesia, have managed to maintain a strong tradition of tolerance. Amidst cultural and religious diversity, Indonesia consistently maintains harmony and effectively manages differences in ethnicity, culture, religion, and belief” he added.
On that occasion, the President also welcomed the constructive role of religious and cultural leaders in ASEAN at the meeting initiated by the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“I hope this forum will serve as a solid foundation in building ASEAN as the epicenter of growth, the epicentrum of harmony to foster widespread mutual understanding,” the President remarked. (DND/UN) (RIF/MMB)
