President Jokowi Encourages Stronger ASEAN-Australia Economic Integration

President Jokowi accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung and Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, attends the ASEAN-Australia Summit through video conference from the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java Province, Saturday (14/11). (Photo by: Press Bureau of Presidential Secretariat /Muchlis Jr)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Saturday (14/11) attended the ASEAN-Australia Summit via video conference from the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java Province.

President Jokowi raised two main issues during the Summit. The first issue was economic integration between ASEAN and Australia.

According to the President, the implementation of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to be signed on Sunday (15/11) will require serious commitment from the two parties.

“I believe that the RCEP will be a catalyst for economic recovery in the region, even at the global scale,” the President said.

He went on to say that both ASEAN and Australia need to strengthen their commitment to upgrade the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand free trade agreement by improving the flow of goods, strengthening global supply chains by utilizing ASEAN as a competitive production base area, developing industrial cooperation 4.0 and digital economy, and increasing interaction between ASEAN and Australian business players.

The President also encouraged stronger security and stability in the region, considering that these aspects are the foundation of post-pandemic economic recovery.

“Respect for international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is the key. This must be echoed to the world,” he said.

On that occasion, the President emphasized that concrete implementation of the program within the framework of ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific is pivotal to bring a real impact on people’s welfare in the region

“In this difficult time, cooperation is the only path that must be taken. I am convinced that ASEAN-Australia partnership can be the main pillar of cooperation and collaboration paradigms in order to realize stability, peace, and prosperity in the region” the President said. (BPMI / UN)

Translated by: Syarifah Aisyah
Reviewed by: Mia Medyana