President Jokowi: Collaboration Needed to Overcome Global Challenges

President Jokowi officially opens the G20 Summit at the Apurva Kempinski Bali, Tuesday (11/15). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat)

In the face of great global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, increasingly intense rivalry, and ongoing war, collaboration is crucial to save the world as they affect food security, energy security, and financial stability, especially in developing countries, according to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

“We have no other choice. The paradigm of collaboration is highly needed to save the world. We all have responsibility not only for our people but also for everyone in the world,” he said at the first session of the G20 Summit at the Apurva Kempinski in the resort island of Bali, Tuesday (11/15).

The President also underscored that taking responsibility means consistently respecting international law and the principles of the UN Charter and creating a win-win situation rather than a zero-sum game.

“Taking responsibility also means that we must put an end to wars. If a war does not end, it will be difficult for the world to move forward. If a war does not end, it will be difficult for us to take responsibility for the future of the current and future generations,” he said, adding that the world should not have been divided into different parts and it must not fall into a state of cold war.

Furthermore, the President pointed out that Indonesia boasts 17,000 islands, 1,300 ethnicities, and more than 700 local vernaculars, adding that democracy in the country is practiced through elections from the lowest government level, namely village head election, to the highest level, namely presidential election.

Therefore, the President urged that the G20 share the same spirit to engage in dialogues to bridge differences.

“As a democratic country, Indonesia is aware that it is important for the G20 to have dialogues to bridge differences and share the same spirit,” he remarked. (TGH/UN) (DH/MUR)