President: ASEAN Must Be the Anchor for World Peace

President Jokowi believes that the ASEAN community is capable of becoming the epicenter of harmony as well as a catalyst for world peace.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Presiden: ASEAN Harus Jadi Jangkar Perdamaian Dunia

ARSIP LTNU

The President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, struck the gong as he inaugurated the Opening of the ASEAN Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue Conference 2023 in Jakarta on Monday, August 7th, 2023.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – President Joko Widodo revealed that the number of physical violence in the name of religion and belief is increasing. For this reason, ASEAN countries must be an example of tolerance and unity. ASEAN is also expected to be able to become the anchor of world peace.

"I am confident that the ASEAN community has an increasingly heightened religious spirit. For example, Indonesia is a country where its people have the strongest belief in God, with the highest percentage in the world," said President Jokowi during the inauguration of the ASEAN Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue Conference (IIDC) 2023 in Jakarta on Monday (7/8/2023)."

A number of figures attended the opening ceremony of the ASEAN IIDC 2023, such as ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn, Coordinating Minister for Human Empowerment and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, and Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qaumas. Also present were Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology Nadiem Makarim; Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Harsono; Mustasyar PBNU KH Ahmad Mustofa Bisri; and ambassadors of friendly countries.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo gave a speech during the inauguration of the ASEAN Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue Conference 2023 in Jakarta on Monday, August 7, 2023.

President Jokowi added that the current world condition is not in a good state. According to the Global Peace Index 2023, global conflicts are increasing. In 2008, there were 58 countries involved in conflicts, and now it has increased to 91 countries.

The mortality rate due to global conflict has increased by 96 percent to 238,000 deaths. The economic losses have also risen by 17 percent to 17.5 trillion US dollars, equivalent to 13 percent of the GDP or gross domestic product.

On the other hand, in the field of religion, societies around the world are becoming increasingly non-religious. A survey from IPSOS Global Religion 2023 of 19,731 people in 26 countries worldwide shows that 29 percent declare themselves agnostic and atheist.

I believe that the ASEAN community is capable of becoming a catalyst for world peace, capable of becoming a caring and sharing community. It is not only the epicenter of growth, but also the epicenter of harmony that maintains regional stability and world peace.

According to the President, the findings of the Pew Research Center state that 96 percent of respondents in Indonesia believe that good morals are determined by faith in God. ASEAN countries are considered to have successfully maintained a strong tradition of tolerance in the midst of cultural and religious diversity.

Indonesia has proven capable of continuing to maintain harmony and managing diversity of ethnicities, ethnicities, cultures, religions and beliefs. "I believe that the ASEAN community is capable of being a catalyst for world peace, able to become a caring and sharing community. It is not only the epicenter of growth, but also the epicenter of harmony that maintains regional stability and world peace," the President added.

The President also warmly welcomes the constructive role of religious and cultural leaders in ASEAN through the strategic initiative of the leadership of Nahdlatul Ulama together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The President hopes that the ASEAN Inter-Cultural and Inter-Religious Dialogue Conference in 2023 can bring about a broader mutual understanding.

Also read: NU, R20, and Efforts to Overcome Problems in Religious Life

ARSIP LTNU

Indonesian: Presiden RI Joko Widodo, Ketua Umum PBNU KH Yahya Cholil Staquf, beserta tamu undangan pemuka agama saat berfoto bersama dalam Pembukaan ASEAN Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue Conference 2023 di Jakarta, Senin (7/8/2023). English: The President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo, the General Chairman of PBNU KH Yahya Cholil Staquf, and invited guests of religious leaders pose for a photo during the opening of the ASEAN Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue Conference 2023 in Jakarta on Monday (8/7/2023).

The ASEAN Secretary General, Kao Kim Hourn, added the importance of intercultural and interreligious dialogue in realizing social stability and harmony. Through meaningful and continuous dialogue among various stakeholders and social communities, efforts to create a tolerant, peaceful, harmonious, and inclusive society become easier to achieve.

"Together, this conference can become a very important dialogue to promote the values of mutual understanding and moderation," he said.

From Houron's perspective, the conflict and polarization that are increasingly developing are caused by the collapse of each other's culture and values ​​stemming from suspicion and misunderstanding. The condition of global war, the emergence of cultural pessimism, and the increasing intolerance and extremism have reduced support for peace and social sustainability.

Hourn believes that Indonesia has played an important and active role in promoting centrality in unity amidst the ongoing social-political dynamics. Therefore, it is hoped that the ASEAN IIDC 2023 forum can have an influence on the trust of the wider community, especially within the ASEAN community.

KOMPAS/ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA

General Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Central Executive Board, Yahya Cholil Staquf, spoke at a press conference at the PBNU office in Jakarta on Wednesday (2/8/2023).

According to the General Chairman of PBNU KH Yahya Cholil Staquf, consolidation from religious leaders and stakeholders is needed so that religion can have meaning in fighting for civilization together for humanity. Thus, interreligious life can coexist peacefully.

Yahya stated that ASEAN and Indo-Pacific regions have similar characteristics in their societies. They all share a common cultural heritage that is characterized by values of tolerance and harmony. Therefore, according to Gus Yahya, this forum invites religious leaders in its entirety to express themselves in an effort to ensure that religious values can also contribute to economic and political struggles.

"We are holding this conference as a kind of initiative to start a consolidation of the great civilization constituency that can encourage the growth of harmony, tolerance, and peace. Hopefully, it can inspire international dynamics as a whole," he said.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

A delegation member of the G20 Religion Forum (R20) conference participants visited Prambanan Temple in Sleman, DI Yogyakarta, on Saturday (5/11/2022).

There are several discussions in the ASEAN IIDC 2023. The topics in the conference will be divided into three panel discussions. The first discussion focuses on the topic of finding and revitalizing the principle of unity in diversity in ASEAN and throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

In the second session, the discussion centered on building consensus among communities regarding moral and spiritual values through religious, cultural, and character education to promote social harmony, peace, prosperity, and environmental progress in the ASEAN region. In the final session, the discussion will focus on the "Movement for Shared Civilizational Values," which aims to preserve and strengthen the rules-based international order built upon universal ethics and human values.

Read also: Religious Leaders Agree to Form Global Alliance

Prominent figures who served as speakers, such as Strategic Initiative Director for the Center for Shares Civilizational Values and Distinguished Research Scholar in Politics at the University of Dallas, Texas, Dr Timothy S Shah; Chairman of the Sangha Theravada Indonesia, Bhante Sri Pannavaro; Senior Researcher for the Associate Initiative for the Study of Asian Catholics, Teresita Cruz del Rosario; Senior Lecturer at Monash University Australia, Prof Hosen Nadirsyah; and Sociology Professor at the National University of Singapore, Dr Syed Farid al-Attas.