VP Ma’ruf Amin Talks With 8th UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon
Vice President Ma’ruf Amin receives a courtesy call from the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, at Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara province, Monday (03/14). (Photo: Vice Presidential Office)
The 8th Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon has expressed optimism that through the G20 Presidency, Indonesia can play a greater role in climate change and peace issues in the Asian region.
He made the statement during an honorary visit to the Vice President Ma’ruf Amin, Monday (03/14) at Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara province after the Opening of the 2nd Asia International Water Week (AIWW).
“I hope that through this G20 Presidency, Indonesia will affirm its leadership for the world,” he said.
Ban Ki-Moon also appreciated the Indonesian Government’s success in organizing the AIWW in Labuan Bajo, an island that has tourism potential. For the record, the AIWW is a series of event of the G20 Indonesia Presidency.
Regarding climate change, Ban Ki-Moon emphasized the importance of implementing the Paris Agreement.
“The first priority is how to apply the Paris Agreement related to climate change in this Presidency,” he said.
Ban Ki-Moon stated that efforts to save the earth from the effects of climate change had been made through the Bali Roadmap.
“This is probably a very good coincidence. In 2007, Indonesia led the Bali Roadmap, fifteen years later Indonesia led the G20,” he said.
Regarding regional security, Ban Ki-Moon expressed hope that conflicts that occurred in Asian countries, such as in Myanmar, could be raised as global issues.
“I am optimistic, with the various experiences it has, Indonesia is able to show strong leadership in creating peace in the region,” he said.
Meanwhile, Vice President Ma’ruf Amin expressed appreciation for Ban Ki-Moon’s support for the G20 Indonesia Presidency with the theme “Recover Together, Recover Stronger”. The theme, he said, was an effort to promote the spirit of post-pandemic recovery.
During the presidency, Indonesia will encourage the G20 to produce concrete results that can support the development of developing, small, and archipelagic countries.
In the forum, which will be attended by 20 countries with the largest economies in the world, Indonesia will raise three priority issues, namely strengthening of global architecture, digital transformation, and energy transition.
“These three issues have strategic value in supporting an inclusive global recovery, responding to the needs of developing countries and preparing for a more sustainable future,” said the Vice President.
He also appreciated Ban Ki-Moon’s leadership in the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the Ban Ki-Moon Center for Global Citizens. Ban Ki-Moon served as Co-Chair of the Ban Ki-Moon Center for Global Citizens from 2017 to 2018. After that, he was elected as Assembly President and Chairman of the Board of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) since 2018 until now.
“We hope that we can establish closer cooperation between the Indonesian Government and the GGGI, as stated in the Country Program Framework 2021-2025,” he said.
Closing the meeting, Ma’ruf also expressed gratitude to Ban Ki-Moon’s attendance at the 2nd IAWW in Indonesia.
“Hopefully we can meet again on another occasion, and we once again appreciate your contribution in advancing global sustainable development,” he remarked. (Vice Presidential Office/UN) (EST/MMB)
