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BEIJING. As the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Beijing is shrouded with ongoing rivalry between host China and the United States, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo met on Monday with leaders from the US, Japan and Russia, and in straightforward diplomacy demanded more for Indonesia.
In his first encounter with US President Barack Obama on the sideline of the event, Jokowi underscored Indonesia’s commitment to remain actively engaged in the region to ensure stability.
“We want stability in the region. Our cooperation should be strengthened, particularly in the area of maritime security,” he said.
Obama told Jokowi that Indonesia’s role as a leader in ASEAN should contribute to the enforcement of maritime security and the compliance of international norms in the region. He also said that regional discussions over the region’s security would be high in the agenda during the upcoming East Asia summit in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, this week.
The summit is a forum held annually by leaders of 18 countries, including the United States and Russia. It is held after the annual ASEAN leaders’ meetings.
During the event, Jokowi will launch his signature maritime-axis vision to the world amid the protracted territorial row over the South China Sea between China and several ASEAN member countries, such as the Philippines and Vietnam, who are backed by the US.
Other security issues discussed with Obama include Indonesia’s commitment to rooting out Islamic extremism.
Jokowi told Obama that Indonesia, having the world’s largest Muslim population, had illustrated democracy at its best as seen in the peaceful transition of power during the recent legislative and presidential election.
“The elections have shown that Islam and democracy can work hand in hand,” said Jokowi.
He also said that Indonesia had ample experience over more than 30 years with resolving issues of religious extremism.
“Aside from a security approach, we will prioritize the use of religion and cultural appeals to reduce extremism,” he said.
Obama praises Indonesia for efforts to campaign for tolerance and pluralism
Jokowi meets with Abe and Putin to discuss investment
Obama praised Indonesia for its extraordinary efforts in the campaign for tolerance and pluralism.
“I would like to thank Indonesia for what it has done to isolate extremism and to work with other countries in counterterrorism efforts,” he said.
Obama also said that the comprehensive economic and security partnership between Indonesia and the US would be expanded as he planned to invite Jokowi to Washington next year.
Prior to meeting Obama, Jokowi met Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, telling him that Indonesia would need more investment from Japan in the manufacturing sector.
“Indonesia and Japan are like brothers. We complement and trust one another. Moving forward, we can expand our cooperation so that our people can reap mutual benefits,” Jokowi told Abe.
Abe congratulated Jokowi on his ascension as Indonesia’s new President and assured Jokowi that Japan would contribute more to Indonesia’s human resource development and manufacturing industries.
During his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Jokowi directly sought Russia’s investment in energy, power plants and railway construction, as well as irrigation, food and manufacturing facilities.
Putin has expressed optimism that there would be more room for future economic cooperation with Indonesia. “I hope during our meeting we can find ways to improve the shortcomings in our economic relations,” said Putin.
Rizal Sukma of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), who advised Jokowi on the trip, said that the meetings highlighted Indonesia’s new course of diplomacy.
“In all the meetings, it was clear that Indonesia has begun to emerge as a global maritime fulcrum. It also showed President Jokowi’s determination to pursue a new direction of foreign policy, which emphasizes the benefit of the people and the country in a concrete way,” said Rizal. (Rendi A. Witular)
