Indonesia Ready to be Motor for Regional, World Peace, Says President Jokowi

President Jokowi with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe (second from right) and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena (white shirt) at the G-7 Outreach Summit in Ise-Shima, Japan. — President Jokowi with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe (2nd from R) and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena (white shirt) at the G-7 Outreach Summit in Ise-Shima, Japan.

Jakarta, 0 Sya’ban 1437/28 May 2016 (MINA) – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said regional and international conflicts must be settled peacefully.

“Indonesia is ready to be motor in creating peace in Asia as well as in the world,” Jokowi said as a lead speaker at the G-7 Outreach Meeting in Shima, Japan on Friday.

The summit meeting took place at the Shima Kanko Hotel the Classic, with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as the moderator, Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MNA) reported, quoting Antara.

Jokowi said it is time for the world to be aware of the importance of settling conflict without creating bigger conflict.

“Settling conflict militarily or by force would lead to other forms of violence such as extremism, even humanitarian crisis,” he said.

Jokowi said Indonesia does not want Asia to be torn by conflicts and become battle ground for big powers.

All nations without exception should abide by international law, otherwise peace and stability could not be maintained, he said.

The world affairs are no long a bipolar issue as many emerging countries have proved to be able to contribute greatly to settling global problems.

On the sidelines of the summit meeting, Jokowi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held bilateral talks on wide ranging issues.

The two leaders discussed mainly economic cooperation between the two countries including in the construction of the Patiban port project in West Java.

Abe said he hoped the issue of auto tariff could be settled immediately.

Jokowi said auto tariff issue and problem in market access for fishery, farm and horticulture products could settled at the same time as one package.

Other issues raised in the meeting included cooperation in the construction of power plant in Batang and rail way across the northern coast of Java.

The meeting was the fourth between the two leaders in less than two years reflecting strong relations between the two countries.

Trade between the two countries has continued to expand in the past several years to reach US$31.27 billion in 2015, favoring Indonesia with a surplus of around US$5 billion.

Japan is the the third largest investing country in Indonesia with investment valued at US$2.87 billion in 2,030 projects in 2015. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)