Jokowi Calls on Leaders Not to Create New Wars
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7 September 2023 17:07 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Joko Widodo or Jokowi called for equal responsibility not to create new conflicts at the opening of the East Asia Summit which was attended by leaders including from the United States to China. He highlighted the need to create a space for dialogue.
The East Asia Summit is part of the ASEAN Summit held in Jakarta on Thursday, September 7, 2023. The high-level meeting brings together leaders from ASEAN, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, and the United States.
At this year’s summit, ASEAN and key partners focused on economic cooperation. However, the Indo-Pacific has become an area of competition. The intensifying tension between the United States and China in recent years has brought potential conflicts to the region.
“We have a responsibility not to create new conflicts, new tensions, new wars,” Jokowi said in his speech.
“At the same time, we also have a responsibility to reduce heated tensions, to melt the frozen atmosphere, to create space for dialogue, to bridge existing differences,” he added.
The United States was represented by Vice President Kamala Harris because President Joe Biden was unable to attend due to domestic agendas. Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping was represented by Premier Li Qiang.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has come under heavy fire from the West for its invasion of Ukraine last year, also did not attend the ASEAN summit.
Additionally, concerns over China's increasingly aggressive activities in the South China Sea are voiced by some ASEAN members.
Jokowi also asked all leaders at the East Asia Summit to make this forum a place to strengthen collaboration and cooperation, not to sharpen rivalry. He emphasized that ASEAN was determined to continue working, playing a role as a contributor to peace and stability.
DANIEL A. FAJRI
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