Several bilateral meetings held between leaders of the Group of 20 member countries have shown positive atmospheres. Indonesia hopes that the G20 Summit will produce a declaration.
By
LARASWATI ARIADNE ANWAR, NINA SUSILO, B JOSIE SUSILO HARDIANTO
·6 minutes read
KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN
President Joko Widodo held a bilateral meeting with United States President Joe Biden (left) on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Nusa Dua, Bali, Monday (14/11/2022).
NUSA DUA, KOMPAS – A day before the Group of 20 Summit opened on Tuesday (15/11/2022), President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo held a bilateral meeting with several leaders of the G20 member countries. On Monday (14/11), President Jokowi met with United States President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Turkish President Recep Tayyib Erdogan and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The meetings proceeded warmly. Jokowi and Biden, for example, met in a room at the Apurva Kempinski Hotel Bali, which had parang-patterned carpets. In Javanese culture, the pattern of the parang symbolizes connection and continuous cooperation. The positive aura that emanated from these meetings brings hope that discussions on both the sherpa and financial tracks could be agreed upon by the G20 leaders through a joint declaration.
Through a short message, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said there was quite a lot of enthusiasm. “Negotiations are still ongoing,” said Retno.
Indo-Pacific
In the Indonesia-US bilateral meeting, Biden hopes that the two countries can strengthen relations. Cooperation is not only needed between countries but also at the Southeast Asian and Indo-Pacific levels.
The Indonesian Ambassador to Washington Rosan Perkasa Roeslani accompanied Jokowi to welcome Biden. He said that Biden, who congratulated Indonesia on chairing ASEAN in 2023, hoped that US-Indonesian and US-ASEAN bilateral relations will improve. Washington seeks to strengthen their relationship and presence in the Indo-Pacific region to ensure it is free and peaceful.
In terms of economic relations, Biden discussed the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), which Indonesia has signed. It is hoped that the IPEF can increase trade and investment. In response, Jokowi promised to immediately pass the framework down to the ministerial and institutional levels. This responsibility has been delegated to Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto.
Concerning the economy, the US has agreed to provide US$20 billion in aid to be used to fund the energy transition program from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
There is also aid from the Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC) of $700 million. The MCC scheme is a US aid scheme that is given to developing countries with economic and development policies deemed good and just. One of the allocations of MCC funds is to overcome poverty.
A joint declaration
At the meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, which was held after the US-Indonesia bilateral meeting, Jokowi hoped that Japan would support and partake in the success of the G20 Summit. Jokowi also hoped that the G20 Summit would result in a joint declaration. “The world’s hopes are very high for the G20 as a catalyst for global recovery. The success of the G20 is a collective responsibility from all G20 countries,” said Jokowi.
In response to the invitation, Kishida stated that he was ready to support the Indonesian G20 presidency. He also said he wanted to continue working with Indonesia to tackle regional and global issues. “I want to continue to work with Indonesia in dealing with regional and global issues, including efforts in realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Kishida.
KOMPAS
President Joko Widodo held a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at The Apurva Kempinski, Bali, Monday (14/11/2022).
Kishida added that 2023 will be a special year for Indonesia-Japan relations. Indonesia-Japan diplomatic relations will be entering its 65th year. Indonesia is chairing ASEAN, while Japan is chairing the Group of Seven (G7) countries. This period will also coincide with 50 years of friendship for ASEAN-Japan. He also believes that Indonesia-Japan strategic relations will grow stronger.
Similar sentiments were conveyed when Jokowi met with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. Apart from discussing Indonesia-EU cooperation negotiations through a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA), the two leaders also discussed the G20. As with Biden and Kishida, Jokowi asked the European Commission and the G7 to provide support and flexibility in order for the G20 Summit to produce a declaration. “I want to ensure that the results the world has been waiting for will be produced. Once again, Your Excellency’s support will be highly appreciated,” said the President.
To Jokowi, von der Leyen expressed appreciation for Indonesia’s leadership in the G20, which continues to strive to formulate joint solutions to global crises. Indonesia is referred to as a trusted partner in various strategic issues, including renewable energy and food security.
ASEAN Summit
The positive aura of the G20 cannot be separated from the warm atmosphere of the ASEAN Summit and the East Asia Summit which were held in Phnom Penh. While attending the ASEAN meeting, Biden reiterated the “One China” policy, which had clouded the atmosphere in the area.
Moreover, in Nusa Dua, the day before the G20 Summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping held a meeting with President Joe Biden. The in-person meeting lasted about 3.5 hours and was their first meeting since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
In a press conference on Monday night, Biden repeated the US policy of “One China.” The statement can be seen as an attempt by the US to defuse tensions.
Meanwhile, at a press conference on Monday evening, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his admiration for Indonesia and President Jokowi’s performance. Indonesia, according to Guterres, assumed the G20 chairmanship at a time when the world is undergoing various crises, such as the food, energy and financial crises.
Guterres added that Indonesia’s G20 presidency took place when the world took punches from many directions. In addition to the food, energy and financial crises, the world has been overshadowed by new conflicts.
“Under such conditions, Indonesia continued to encourage dialogue to find solutions. Indonesia began the presidency of developing countries. I hope that India, Brazil and South Africa can follow in the footsteps of the path that Indonesia has paved,” said Guterres.
Under such conditions, Indonesia continued to encourage dialogue to find solutions.
When contacted separately, Foreign Policy Community Indonesia founder Dino Patti Djalal said that despite various bilateral meetings and declarations or communiques, global tensions would not suddenly subside. Thus, there is a possibility that the implementation of the results of the G20 Summit cannot be fully integrated.
“There will be divisions of performance. For example, Western countries will implement their own version and for their own circles. Likewise with China and Russia, they would have their own boxes as well,” he said.
/https%3A%2F%2Fasset.kgnewsroom.com%2Fphoto%2Fpre%2F2022%2F11%2F14%2F21a74424-6f46-41dd-a59f-bb2722b30e8e_jpg.jpg){kind=logo}
