Jokowi at IPPP: Pacific Parliamentary Partnership Strengthens the Spirit of Brotherhood and Regional Integrity
Jakarta – Chairman of the DPR RI, Puan Maharani has officially opened the 2nd session of the Indonesia-Pacific Parliamentary Partnership (IPPP) at the Fairmont Hotel, Jakarta, Thursday (25/7).
Also present at this event was the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi) as well as Pacific parliamentary delegations, including the Cook Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Kiribati and the Republic of Fiji.
The chairman of the DPR RI said that Indonesia and Pacific countries have similarities as fellow archipelagic countries surrounded by waters and oceans. Apart from that, Indonesia and Pacific countries are also said to have similar values.
“Our country upholds democratic values, respects human rights, and implements good governance,” emphasized Puan.
According to him, IPPP members must be careful so that the Pacific region does not become an arena for competition between large countries and so that they do not get trapped in this competition.
During this moment, Puan also touched on various challenges currently facing Pacific countries, including geopolitical tensions, threats of conflict, polarization, slow global economic growth and the impact of global warming.
He requested that this challenge be resolved together through diplomacy between countries.
“This can be done if Parliament participates in promoting the habit of dialogue through Parliamentary diplomacy, rather than implementing unilateral policies,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Jokowi revealed three important sectors that need to be handled jointly by various countries in the Pacific Region. These include climate change mitigation, potential for blue economy development, and human resource development in the Pacific region.
The Head of State emphasized that Indonesia needs to develop Pacific cooperation in order to maximize existing potential, in order to improve people’s welfare.
“Through this parliamentary partnership, let us strengthen the spirit of brotherhood, mutual trust, mutual respect, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. “I am sure that through strong collaboration we can maintain stability and increase prosperity for the surrounding community,” he concluded.
