President Jokowi Expresses Appreciation for Cooperation in Facing Pandemic

President Jokowi at the 2023 National Lunar New Year Celebration at Banteng Square in Central Jakarta, Sunday (01/29). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat/Muchlis Jr)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Thursday (01/29) expressed appreciation to the Indonesian people for joining hands and helping each other in facing the COVID-19 pandemic.

“That is our country, Indonesia, the land of Pancasila. That is what saved us; we helped each other, we worked together,” the President said in his remarks at the peak event of the 2023 National Lunar New Year Celebration held at Banteng Square in Central Jakarta, Sunday (01/29).

The President also called on the public to rise and work hard to catch up on what they missed in the pandemic, adding that the country’s situation has gone back to normal although it is still in the post-pandemic transition.

“I call on all of us to work hard, rise, and be optimistic to catch up on what we have missed,” he said.

The President also expressed his gratitude for the excellent national economic growth that surpassed the growth of other G20 countries, while urging everyone to strengthen cooperation and help each other just as they did during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We need to strengthen our cooperation and optimize it by continuing to work hand in hand,” he said, adding that the success was not easily achieved considering the Government had to maintain balance between health care and the economy.

The Head of State also stated that the national economy remained relatively stable because the country did not enforce lockdown during the pandemic.

“I decided not to enforce lockdown although there was pressure to enforce it. Apparently, it was the right decision. If we had enforced lockdown, our economic growth could have been at negative 17 [percent] and it would be very difficult to return it to normal because it would have dropped very drastically just like the growth of European countries,” he said.

The President closed his remarks by conveying Lunar New Year greeting to guests in attendance and all Indonesian people who celebrate it.

“Happy Lunar New Year 2574. May God bless us all,” he said. (BPMI Presidential Secretariat/AIT) (DH/EP)