ASEAN and the Gulf Countries Become New Economic Powers
ASEAN-Gulf Countries cooperation is entering a new phase. More strategic cooperation is expected to occur after the First ASEAN-GCC Summit.
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The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in ASEAN dan Negara-negara Teluk Jadi Kekuatan Ekonomi Baru
The ASEAN High-Level Conference and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Friday (20/10/2023).
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – President Joko Widodo is hoping for collaboration between ASEAN countries and Gulf countries to create a new economic force. This collaboration is also expected to promote peace in the Indo-Pacific region.
The ASEAN High-Level Conference and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Cooperation Organization was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Friday (20/10/2023). President Joko Widodo and Saudi Arabia Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman led this first summit together.
The leaders of ASEAN countries, such as Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr, Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong, Vietnamese PM Pham Minh Chinh, Brunei Darussalam Sultan Hasanal Bolkiah, Laotian PM Sonexay Siphandone, and Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim, were present at the meeting.
As for GCC countries, they consist of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar. The GCC leaders were all present in this summit meeting. Besides Prince Mohammed bin Salman, they are Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, UAE's President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, and Kuwait's Emir Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah.
President Joko Widodo welcomes the first meeting of ASEAN with the Gulf leaders as a historic moment.
Also Read: ASEAN Officially Embraces Saudi Arabia
President Joko Widodo and Saudi Arabian Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman jointly chaired the First ASEAN Summit and Gulf Cooperation Council held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Friday (20/10/2023).
Indonesia also appreciates the accession of all GCC members to the friendship and cooperation of ASEAN. This shows the Gulf countries' commitment to supporting peace in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific region.
ASEAN and GCC initiated their first contact in 1990. At that time, the Foreign Minister of Oman, as the Chairman of the GCC Ministerial Council, expressed his desire to establish formal relations with ASEAN. As a result, in the same year, ASEAN foreign ministers met for the first time with their counterparts from GCC on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Subsequently, one by one, GCC countries signed the ASEAN-TAC for friendship and cooperation.
Now, ASEAN and GCC are two major forces that will continue to grow. The gross domestic product of these two regions is over 5 trillion US dollars. The population of the regions is also over 700 million.
This is a big asset for us to play a strategic role as a positive force amidst a world that is divided.
"This is a great asset for us to play a strategic role as a positive force amidst a divided world," said President Jokowi in his speech.
For the economic field, President Jokowi invited ASEAN and GCC leaders to maximize economic potential through balanced, open, and fair investment and trade, including by the formation of an ASEAN-GCC trading framework. In addition, cooperation in industrial development, implementation of halal certification, and development of halal tourism can also be carried out.
ASEAN and GCC also need to build food and energy resilience together. "Food supply chain security through agricultural and food technology cooperation, and alignment of agricultural commodity standards. We need to strengthen energy sector resilience through mutually beneficial and sustainable partnerships to accelerate energy transition," added President Jokowi.
President Joko Widodo shook hands with Emir Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani before a group photo session with ASEAN and Gulf Cooperation Council leaders, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Friday (20/10/2023).
I ask for the support of the GCC countries.
The next message is also about protecting migrant workers. This is considered very important in the midst of an increasingly uncertain global situation. According to President Jokowi, ASEAN continues to improve protection for migrant workers. "I ask for the support of GCC countries," said President Jokowi.
Following the ASEAN-GCC summit, President Jokowi stated that the summit proceeded smoothly and productively. "This summit holds significant meaning, as Indonesia, ASEAN, and GCC choose to enhance cooperation amidst a world that is increasingly divided," he said.
Gaza Concerns
Concerns regarding the current situation in Gaza were also conveyed by President Jokowi. "Acts of violence must be stopped. Humanitarian issues must be the priority at this time, and we must prevent the situation from getting worse," he said.
Violence must be stopped. Humanitarian issues should be a priority at the moment, and we must prevent the situation from getting worse.
Therefore, the root of the problem, which is the occupation of Palestine by Israel, cannot be forgotten. This must be resolved in accordance with international parameters that have been agreed upon. "The position of ASEAN and GCC must be clear and solid in supporting a fair and lasting peace solution in Palestine," said the President.
The leaders of ASEAN countries and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) posed for a group photo prior to the First ASEAN-GCC Summit held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Friday (20/10/2023).
After the ASEAN-GCC summit, President Jokowi stated that regarding Palestine, the 16 member countries agreed to strive for the cessation of violence, to open full access of humanitarian support, and to reaffirm their commitment to the two-state solution so that both countries can live alongside peacefully.
President Jokowi also explained the results of his bilateral meeting with Saudi Arabian PM Mohammed bin Salman the day before at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh.
I convey the truth that the hajj queue in Indonesia is very long, and even some people have to wait for 47 years, so Indonesia needs additional hajj quotas. Alhamdulillah, the response was very positive and, in less than 12 hours, an additional quota of at least 20,000 for next year's hajj was provided.
"I convey the truth that the hajj queue in Indonesia is very long, to the point that some must wait for 47 years, thus Indonesia needs an additional hajj quota. Thank God, it was responded to very positively and, in less than 12 hours, the commitment for additional hajj quota was immediately granted, at least 20,000 (additional quota) for next year," he said.
In addition, President Jokowi has also considered the relationship between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia to be increasingly close. This is because when President Jokowi met with Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Prime Minister's wife – Princess Sara binti Talal bin Aldulaziz al-Saud – invited Mrs. Iriana to the Palace.
"The First Lady recounted yesterday that she was warmly welcomed and received with great hospitality. This is something that does not usually happen. The information I received was that Princess Sara rarely receives the wives of foreign heads of state," added the President.
The 10th and 12th Vice President of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla, met with two special envoys from the European Union for Afghanistan, namely Tomas Niklasson and Jenni Gren, on Thursday (19/10/2023) afternoon local time in Brussels at the office of the European Union Commission in Belgium.
In Brussels, Kalla attended The Fifth EU Community of Practice on Peace Mediation 2023 (EU CoP 2023) event on October 18-19, 2023.
Kalla's experience and good communication with all components of society and government in Afghanistan are considered important.
In the meeting that lasted almost two hours, Niklasson sought input from Kalla. Kalla's experience and good communication with all components of society and the government in Afghanistan thus far were considered important.
The 10th and 12th Vice President of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla, met with two special envoys of the European Union for Afghanistan, Tomas Niklasson and Jenni Gren, on Thursday (19/10/2023) afternoon Brussels time, at the office of the European Commission, Brussels, Belgium.
Kalla, who also serves as the Chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross and the Chairman of the Indonesian Mosque Council, believes that Afghanistan is now much calmer and safer than in previous years. "If there is anything that needs to be addressed, it is the issue of women not being allowed to obtain an education," he said.
If there is something that needs to be questioned, it is the issue of women being prohibited from obtaining an education.
Currently, Afghan women are becoming increasingly isolated in their daily activities, particularly in the education sector.
The next issue is the increasingly dire economic situation. Investors must be convinced that Afghanistan is safe. Without a sense of security and comfort, there will be no investment from other countries.
Also Read: JK: Afghanistan Will Not Fall into Civil War
Therefore, continued Kalla, all parties must ensure that there is no more civil war in Afghanistan. This is important because there are many armed resistance groups in Afghanistan.
In addition, Kalla continued, do not isolate Afghanistan from global interactions now.
The European Union also hopes that Kalla will return to Kabul in the near future. Kalla is also asked to remain actively paying attention and working for the good of Afghanistan. The European Union also hopes for cooperation with Kalla to solve Afghanistan's problems.
