President Joko Widodo of Indonesia delivered a powerful message on global collaboration, equality, and inclusivity during the G7 Partner Working Session in Hiroshima, Japan. The President highlighted the need for a more inclusive and equal world and emphasized that the only way to achieve this is by working together. The President asked whether G7 countries and partners had embraced equality, inclusivity, and mutual understanding, urging them to dare to say the truth and acknowledge the many things that need to be improved.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of involving more countries in the global supply chain, noted President Jokowi. He called for the end of monopolistic policies and discriminatory policies against commodities of developing countries. The President stressed that every country’s right to development must be respected and that Global South countries must be allowed to export more than just raw materials, as opposed to the colonial era. He posed a question: “Is it fair that a country rich in natural resources like Indonesia is prevented from enjoying the added value of its natural resources? Prevented from processing their natural resources in the country?”
The President emphasized that the more than 270 million Indonesians who contribute to peace, democracy, and the economy in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region must prosper. The President further stated that Indonesia has not closed itself but is working hard to increase equitable cooperation that mutually benefits all. The President hopes that the G7 countries can become partners in industry downstreaming and establish a kind of OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) for other products, such as nickel and palm oil.
Towards the end of his speech, President Jokowi highlighted the G7’s vital role in reducing polarization and invited them to collaborate. The world needs collaboration that unites, not polarization, emphasized the President, adding that “G7 countries have a big role in creating concrete and equal collaboration.”
In conclusion, President Joko Widodo’s speech at the G7 Partner Working Session served as a reminder of the need for global collaboration, equality, and inclusivity. He highlighted the important role of the G7 in achieving a more inclusive and equal world and called for the end of monopolistic policies and discriminatory policies against commodities of developing countries. His message was a strong reminder that we can only work together if we understand and respect each other, and we need to dare to speak the truth about the many things that need to be improved to achieve a more equal and inclusive world.
