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Jokowi wins support for foreign policy speech
President Joko âJokowiâ Widodoâs opening speech at 60th Asian-African Conference Commemoration was met with applause from the audience, which included legislators who are often very critical of the President
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resident Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo's opening speech at 60th Asian-African Conference Commemoration was met with applause from the audience, which included legislators who are often very critical of the President. However, there was also concern that Indonesia's foreign policy under Jokowi's government may swing in a new direction and away from the government's traditional 'free and active' platform.
Jokowi sent strong messages in his speech, lashing out at world powers and 'criticizing inequality resulting from the unjust West-led world order,' prompting speculation that he could bring Indonesia an away from the West and closer to China.
'Views stating that the world's economy can only be resolved by the World Bank, IMF and ADB are outdated and need to be thrown away,' the President said on Wednesday, prompting speculation that the President intended to express his support for China's initiative to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
Speculation was further fueled when Jokowi and Chinese President Xi Jinping wore the same color batik during the gala dinner at the State Palace.
Many have praised Jokowi's bravery for delivering such a speech, calling the move political leverage for Indonesia in the international arena.
It could be also seen as a response to critics who had questioned his skills in diplomatic engagements given his lack of experience in foreign affairs.
'In terms of economy, Indonesia is divided into two blocs, the US bloc and the China-Russia bloc. Indonesia does not need to be trapped in the game of the two blocs,' Centre for People Studies and Advocation (CePSA) executive director Sahat Martin Philip said.
Many people previously believed that Jokowi would give less focus to international affairs, including in ASEAN where Indonesia has always been a key player, compared to his predecessor, the internationalist Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
On the sidelines of the conference, the former mayor and governor was also actively involved in bilateral and multilateral jobs, such as on the issues of Palestine, terrorism and the conflicts in the Middle East, in a bid to strengthen Indonesia's role in the region's and world's peace and stability.
'No need to interpret it too wildly,' said Yuri Thamrin, the Foreign Ministry's director general for Asia-Pacific and Africa, said, trying to convince that Indonesia's foreign policy was not changing.
'Many members of the delegations, as well as diplomats stationed in Jakarta, told me that they greatly appreciated the President's speech, indeed. They said the speech was inspiring,' he added.
'But conveying the facts that there were still inequalities and injustice in the world does not mean that we want to be confrontational,' he said. 'Indonesia's foreign policy remains constructive.'
Sahat concurred, saying that Indonesia should instead focus on forging cooperation with India and South Africa.
'The three countries are important players today and can be significant drivers for non-bloc countries,' he said. 'These three countries can be a bridge for the establishment of the new Asia-Africa economic power. Like Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said, Asia was the engine of global growth.
