President Prabowo Calls for Inclusive Cooperation at APEC Summit

President Prabowo Subianto attends the 2025 APEC Summit, held at the Hwabaek International Convention Centre (HICO), Gyeongju, the Republic of Korea on Friday (10/31). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat)

President Prabowo Subianto called for rebuilding mutual trust and strengthening concrete cooperation between Asia-Pacific countries amid increasing global uncertainty and tensions. This call was made by the President when delivering his speech at the first session of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM), which was held at the Hwabaek International Convention Centre (HICO), Gyeongju, the Republic of Korea, on Friday (10/31).

Under the theme “Towards a More Connected, Resilient Region and Beyond”, the forum served as a platform for APEC leaders to strengthen their commitment to an inclusive, open, and equitable growth. President Prabowo reminded that increasing suspicion and tensions could threaten global economic stability. However, the President emphasized that the Asia-Pacific region must not succumb to division.

“We meet today at the time of global uncertainty, tensions, rising distrust are endangering the stability of the global economy and deepening division amongst us. However, I believe that Asia Pacific must not accept division as its destiny. We must rise above suspicion, fear, and we must rebuild trust amongst ourselves and amongst the global economy,” said President Prabowo.

President Prabowo stated that APEC was founded on a share believe in inclusive economic growth and multilateral cooperation. The President emphasized the importance of renewing the commitment to an open and fair trade system based on international rules.

“It is time to renew our commitment to an open, fair, inclusive multilateral economic cooperation. Indonesia is committed to a rules-based multilateral trade system with the WTO as its core and to ensure that everyone compete on a level playing field,” emphasized President.

President Prabowo also reminded that an exclusive economic growth will only create division and instability. The President called for inclusivity and sustainability as the guiding compass for APEC members’ economies in building a shared future.

“Growth that excludes is growth that divides. Division causes instability, and instability will not be conducive to peace and prosperity. Inclusivity should therefore guide us,” he said.

President Prabowo also emphasized the importance of cooperation in facing transnational crime such as smuggling, money laundering, and drug trafficking, which hinder real economic growth and damage the region’s future.

Concluded his speech, President Prabowo encouraged all APEC leaders to cooperate together in building new trust and strengthen region’s collaboration. “Let us work together to continue to build APEC and pursue cooperation through multilateralism in order to ensure that APEC continues to deliver real benefits,” concluded the President. (Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of the Presidential Secretariat) (TCUD/MMB)