President Jokowi Speaks Before the 7th Asian Leadership Conference

By Office of Assistant to Deputy Cabinet Secretary for State Documents & Translation     Date 17 Mei 2016
Category: News
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President Jokowi attends the 7th Asian Leadership Conference in the Shilla Hotel, Seoul, South Korea (17/5)

In the third day of his working visit to South Korea, President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo on Tuesday (17/5) attended the 7th Asian Leadership Conference in the Shilla Hotel, Seoul, South Korea.

In his remarks at the event, President Jokowi said that he is a fan of South Korea.

“I love the food, the gadget, and the music. My daughter loves South Korea and its artists. I once accompanied my daughter to see a KPOP music concert,” President Jokowi said.

President Jokowi also shared his previous experiences as the head of regions.

“Eleven years ago, I started my political career as a mayor of Solo, a city in Central Java. I used to have a walk and talk with the people, and I have observed many things. One of the problems in Solo is street vendors who sell their products illegally in public parks, that block the roads, and create traffic congestion. On the other hand, people litter and make the area looks dirty,” President Jokowi said in his keynote speech during the Opening of the 7th Asian Leadership Conference.

The previous mayors of Solo, the President added, have been trying to demolish street vendor stalls and it always leads to a commotion. Therefore, President Jokowi said that he took some approaches to the street vendors and in the next seven months, they have agreed to be relocated and it makes people become comfortable to visit the park for recreation.

“Four years later, I served as the Governor of Jakarta and faced more difficult problems, yet the solution is similar with the one in Solo,” President Jokowi said.

The President then cited an example of the construction of Jakarta Outer Ring Road (JORR) toll that has not been completed since the beginning of the construction 14 years ago because there were still people who refused to sell their land for the construction of toll road.

“I met the residents, had a nice talk and food with them, and five months later, they agreed to be relocated,” President Jokowi said.

Furthermore, President Jokowi said that this is the time of robotic, artificial, intelligence, genetic, and printing innovations.

During the time, the President added, some instability and economic gap arise.

“Indeed, innovation creates a winner but also a loser. When innovation becomes massive, there will be more winners. However, if we are not careful, there will be more losers,” the President added.

According to the President, the gap between the winner and the loser will create an inequality and will trigger embarrassment and anger that could lead to extreme actions.

“Currently, there are many innovations on technology and business sectors, but we also need innovation in our social lives. We need innovation in the Government’s mindset, also an innovation that will make the winner care about the loser,” the President said.

Indonesia, the President added, is renowned for its national motto Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity), also for its cultural and language richness.

“However, the diversity is not only in the culture and religions, but also in the personality. We must embrace those who are different, those who have different perspectives from us,” President Jokowi explained.

President Jokowi said that Indonesians must tolerate the differences, be it the differences in social class or religious beliefs.

“If we want to walk with them, they will walk with us. Together we will become stronger,” President Jokowi closed his speech.

In the event, President Jokowi was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Minister of Trade Thomas Lembong, Head of Creative Economy Agency Triawan Munaf, and Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki. (GUN/UN) (RAS/EP/YM/Naster)

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