One new thing has been done in Asia, particularly by Indonesia after its founding father Sukarno. It is a major step forward for the country.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The speech that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo gave at the Asian-African Summit on the sidelines of the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Asian-African Conference (AAC) is a major step forward for Indonesia.

President Jokowis bold action to correct and criticize financial institutions such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, as well as the United Nations, is a tactic commonly employed by Latin American leaders.

"One new thing has been done in Asia, particularly by Indonesia after its founding father Sukarno. It is a major step forward for the country," political observer Boni Hargens said.

In a public discussion, "Indonesia: The Main Pillar of Asia," here on Thursday, Hargens stated that President Jokowis speech is expected to portray Indonesia as a major force in Asia, especially in the political realm.

"We know of the greatness of Bung Karno and his courage. Today, it was repeated by Joko Widodo. I believe there is hope for Indonesia to become an Asian tiger in all fields," he remarked.

According to Hargens, solidarity in rearranging the new world order was needed to counteract the growing radical ideology associated with global structural inequities in Asian and African regions.

"Today, President Jokowi asked participants of the AAC to build regional solidarity and to create a new world order to prevent all forms of injustice, radicalism and terrorism," he said.

Moreover, the significance of President Jokowis speech, he added, must be applied to the correct system of development and economic order to ensure that it does work against developing countries.

Hargens further noted that President Jokowis speech should be used to characterize world politics in the 21st century with all regional organizations that emerge as solutions.

"In particular, the southern states with all regional organizations should emerge as alternative solutions to the protracted global economic and political crises," he asserted.

In addition, the Indonesian Farmers Association (SPI) welcomed Jokowis speech at the Asian-African Summit positively as he highlighted the problems faced by Asian and African people.

"We are happy because President Jokowi raised the issues of inequality, injustice and violence at the highest Asian-African forum," SPI Chairman Henry Saragih said in a press statement here on Thursday.

He noted that President Jokowi should immediately take action on the issues mentioned in his speech as farmers are ready to support him by working hard.

"Farmers also lauded Indonesias commitment to the people of Palestine. We express our solidarity to the farmers there, and it would be nice if the freedom and rights of the Palestinian people are recognized worldwide," Saragih remarked.

President Jokowi stated that the future of the world lay in the hands of Asia and Africa due to their human resources and immense economic potential.

He affirmed that Asian and African countries should establish cooperation to transform them into advanced and prosperous regions.

"The present world is full of injustice. The new challenge is to find ways to forge international cooperation based on justice and equality," Jokowi pointed out in his opening remarks at the Asian-African Leaders Summit held to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the AAC here on Wednesday.

Jokowi is of the view that a collective global leadership is necessary to address imbalances in both global political and economic architectures as they have stalled the progress of Asian and African countries.

In addition, the Indonesian head of state affirmed that several key values advocated during the AAC in 1955 should be implemented.

"The key values are prosperity, solidarity and stability in Asian and African countries," he said while opening the Asian-African Parliamentary Conference here on Thursday.

The president also emphasized that the implementation of these key values should be carried out jointly by the government and parliament.

"I welcome the agenda to be discussed during the Asian-African Parliamentary Conference in line with the issues discussed in the AAC," the president said.

The issues are related to world peace and prosperity, an increase in the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership, and solidarity for Palestine," the president stated.

Moreover, after delivering a speech at the Asian-African Parliamentary Conference here on Thursday, former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that the AAC should be used as a platform to ensure cooperation among countries of the two continents.

"The spirit of Asia and Africa will never fade. While in the past, the spirit was against colonialism, it is now for peace, justice and prosperity," Yudhoyono remarked.

The former president expressed hope that the AAC 2015 could serve to allow Indonesia to play a greater global role.

"More importantly, the people of Indonesia must benefit from the cooperation we have to maintain," he said.(*)

Reporter: Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015