STATEMENT BY VICE PRESIDENT REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA AT 11TH ASEM SUMMIT PLENARY SESSION 2 ON PROMOTING ASEM PARTNERSHIP FOR GREATER CONNECTIVITY

Mr Chair,

Excellencies,

Let me at the outset join previous speakers in extending our deepest condolences to the government and people of France on recent tragic event in Nice. Our hearts with and prayers are for the victims and bereaved families.

I would express my appreciation to Mongolia for hosting the 11^th ASEM Summit.

I also wish to congratulate H.E. President Tsakia Elbegdorj for his steadfast leadership.

Since its very inception, ASEM was established as a means to connect the people of Asia and Europe.

Today, we gather here in Mongolia, a meeting point between Asia and Europe, which has seen a long history of expeditions between both continents.

ASEM has and will continue to promote closer connections between the two regions.

20 years onwards, I am happy to note that much has been achieved, particularly in the connectivity among the people, thanks to the works of our colleagues and also to Asia Europe Foundation (ASEF), who have been at the forefront in this effort.

Recently, the majority of the British people have voted to leave the European Union (Brexit). This decision could have worldwide negative implications such as increasing protectionist policies by governments. We need to ensure that Brexit does not hamper Asia-Europe connectivity.

Now, we must ask ourselves, have we done enough to develop connectivity between Asia-Europe? The answer is not enough yet.

Do we have the capacity to develop greater connectivity? The answer is simply, YES WE DO.

Today, developing connectivity has become more important than ever as Asia and Europe face common challenges, such as:

• Widening development gap between the richest and poorest within and between nations;

• Numerous conflicts which have resulted in large flow of refugees;

• Increasing intolerance and threats of terrorism;

• Digital divide resulting in economic and social inequality with regard to access and use of information and communication technologies (ICT).

Therefore, Indonesia believes that ASEM should play a greater role in connecting solutions and in addressing these challenges.

Firstly, ASEM should serve as a bridge for connectivity in areas of economic, trade and investment, as well as physical connectivity. Through among others:

• Continuing economic and financial reforms and ensuring greater coordination and collaboration between Asia and Europe;

• Facilitating trade and investment between Asia and Europe to achieve an inclusive and sustainable growth;

• Enhancing cooperation on physical connectivity.

Secondly, ASEM should actively promote peace, prevent, and help to resolve conflict, through:

 

• Promoting dialogue among conflicting parties to build trust and achieve peaceful settlement;

• Encouraging balance between security and humanitarian approach on refugees settlement.

 

Thirdly, ASEM should promote connectivity of shared and common values among its people. This includes:

• Promotion of tolerance and moderation among the people;

• Respect for pluralism through, among others, interfaith dialogue;

• Continuation of the promotion of human rights and democracy.

In this context, Indonesia is proud to host the 4th ASEM Transport Ministers’ Meeting in 2017.

• With a focus on integrated transport connectivity, including intermodal solutions;

• Synergized with other regional strategic initiatives to achieve a modernized transport connectivity and greener urban transport.

Lastly, ASEM should promote digital connectivity to ensure equality of access and benefit from ICT, including for small and medium enterprises.

ASEM has a lot to offer in developing connectivity capacities for its partners.

It is important to pool and manage resources among ASEM Partners… to ensure all ASEM partners benefit from greater connectivity between Asia and Europe.

In this regard, Indonesia supports the establishment of a working group on connectivity… to realize concrete, mutually beneficial cooperations for us.

During this time of global economic stagnation, ASEM should enhance cooperation, including in technology transfer, to boost trade and industrial cooperation between Asia and Europe.

Furthermore, in the face of high population and global food shortages as well as decreasing productivity of farm, ASEM should encourage joint-research on food production throughout Asia and Europe.

By addressing global problems, collaboration between Asia and Europe will contribute significantly to making the world a better place to live.

I thank you