President Jokowi: ASEAN-Russia Partnership Must Contribute to World Peace & Prosperity

President Jokowi and participants of ASEAN-Russia Summit take a group photo at the Radisson Blu Resort Congress Centre, Sochi, Russia

At the Plenary Session of the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit held at the Radisson Blu Resort Congress Centre, Sochi, Russia (20/5), President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo  asserted that ASEAN-Russia partnership which has been established for 20 years must contribute to the world peace and prosperity.

Regarding world peace, President Jokowi said that the world has seen many conflicts, which lead to humanity crisis.

“The time has come for world leaders to prevent and solve the conflicts,” President Jokowi said.

President Jokowi went on to say that Indonesia considers that regional architecture is important to maintain the peace and stability in the region, as delivered by President Jokowi at the East Asian Summit.

Indonesia, the President added, understands that Russia also shares the same view. Therefore, the President said that Indonesia and ASEAN are willing to join hands to manifest ASEAN regional architecture, centrality, and leadership.

“An architecture which emphasizes the principles of openness, transparency, and inclusiveness; as well as an architecture that respects sovereignty and integrity of other countries; accentuate dialogs in solving problems; and respects international law,” President Jokowi said.

To improve people’s prosperity, President Jokowi added that ASEAN-Russia partnership must focus on the development of physical connectivity, cooperation on energy sector to promote energy security, and cooperation on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (UMKM) sector which covers mutual efforts to strengthen competitiveness in global market.

In addition, the President also said that people-to-people contacts needs to be enhanced by improving cooperation on tourism sector, including language and tour operator skill training which are needed to boost tourism sector, as well as education sector by providing scholarship and exchanges of youth or students.

“For example, through cooperation between ASEAN Center at the MGIMO University Moskow and Center for ASEAN Study in several universities in ASEAN member countries,” the President said.

At the end of his remarks, President Jokowi imparted his view on Syrian conflict. According to the President, the conflict must be put to end because it took many victims.

”Extremism has dramatically risen due to the continuous conflict and it encourages mass migration that leads to humanity crisis,” the President said.

Therefore, the President asserted that stability and peace in Syria must be achieved because  it contributes to stability and peace in the Middle East and the world.

“Indonesia considers that an inclusive political dialog needs to be promoted and humanitarian aid needs to be guaranteed.” the President concluded. (TKP/UN) (RAS/EP/YM/Naster)