Jakarta, 7 September 2023 – Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said that the waters of the Indian Ocean which stretches Indonesia and India must be interpreted as a sea of cooperation. The two countries can forge many potential collaborations, from the blue economy sector, maritime connectivity, to sustainable marine energy resources.
Moreover, cooperation can be explored on measures for combating potential crimes like piracy, human trafficking, illegal drug trafficking, and Illegal Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) Fishing.
“We must be able to make the ocean a sea of cooperation, not a sea of confrontation,” said President Jokowi at the opening of the 20th ASEAN-India Summit at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Thursday (7 September).
According to President Jokowi, the potential for managing the Indian Ocean is enormous because it has massive capital. The Indian Ocean connects as many as 33 countries, a population of around 2.9 billion people, and one-fifth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
So great is the potential that is its strength, continued President Jokowi, that stability and peace around the Indian Ocean region must always be maintained. The key is respecting the international law, fostering cooperative habits, and promoting an inclusive regional architecture.
"This is the key to realizing a region capable of becoming the epicentrum of growth," said the President.
On the third day of the 43rd ASEAN Summit, President Jokowi chaired four Summits, namely the 20th ASEAN-India Summit, the 18th East Asia Summit, the 3rd ASEAN-Australia Summit, and the 13th ASEAN-UN Summit.
The 20 ASEAN-India Summit was attended by leaders of ASEAN countries and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as partner country. While the18th East Asia Summit was held in Cendrawasih Room 3 JCC. President Jokowi chaired the 3rd ASEAN-Australia Summit with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the 13th ASEAN-UN Summit with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
***
For further information, please contact:
Director General of Public Information and Communication, Ministry of Communication and Informatics – Usman Kansong (0816785320).
Find more information at http://asean2023.id, https://infopublik.id/kategori/asean-2023, and https://indonesia.go.id/kategori/ragam-asean-2023
Photo caption: President Joko Widodo (right), and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, talking on the sidelines of a joint photo of the 20th ASEAN-India Summit in Jakarta, Thursday (7 September 2023). 2023 ASEAN Summit Media Center/Dwi Prasetya/foc.