STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT-Jakarta. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi on Monday met with her Serbian counterpart Nikola Selakovic to discuss bilateral relations and international issues, especially the conflict in Ukraine. Minister Retno underlined the significance of maintaining the principle of territorial integrity and sovereignty. Retno also emphasized Indonesia’s urge for all parties to immediately halt the violence and negotiate for a peaceful solution.
Retno also underlined the importance of developing a climate of strategic trust among countries involved in conflicts. Retno said the conflicted countries are all responsible for creating an environment conducive to peaceful conflict resolution. Concerning the impact of the war in Ukraine on food security, Indonesia and Serbia will explore the possibility of wheat imports, she added.
Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, during the sidelines of the 7th session of GPDRR in Bali on Wednesday, held a number of bilateral meetings with U.N. officials, including Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid, and WHO Director General Advisor Saima Wazed Hossain, to discuss the situation and efforts to resolve the war in Ukraine. Minister Retno expressed concern about the impact of the war on the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which would be further delayed from the target.
Economic Affairs Coordinating Minister Airlangga Hartarto on Monday said Indonesia’s G20 presidency was pushing for equal distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, especially to developing countries. He said President Jokowi had also been appointed by the Director General of the United Nations to a group that will discuss energy transition, food availability and security, and funding for developing countries that are currently struggling to repay debt.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged Indonesia, as host of the upcoming G20 summit, to “eliminate interference and carry out the set agenda” for the summit amid calls to discuss the Ukraine war during the meeting. The summit in November should discuss the economy and not politics, Wang told his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi by phone on Wednesday. Wang said China supported Indonesia to lead the group of major economies “towards the correct direction.”
China and Indonesia both said the G20 was an inappropriate venue to discuss the Ukraine war, but Ukraine’s ambassador in Jakarta has said the economic impact of Western sanctions on Russia and the breakdown of supply chains were crucial issues facing the global economy.
Wang also said in the phone call that the “Asian moment” had arrived for global governance, and that Asia should form a tighter bond, echoing a joint statement from the Indonesian, Thai, and Cambodian foreign ministries in early May. “In the face of a turbulent global situation, Asian countries should play a positive role in the peaceful and stable development of the region and the world.”
All G20 member countries emphasized the crucial role of the G20 as a forum for international economic cooperation to address complex world economic challenges. In financial matters, there is support from G20 for low-income countries in facing economic vulnerabilities and overcoming the impact of the pandemic. The G20 also seeks to maintain financial system stability (Red/many sources).
