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G20 FMM: Opening speech of Indonesian Foreign Minister
Below is the transcript of Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi’s speech at the opening session of the second day of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, on July 8, 2022 in Nusa Dua, Bali, highlighting multilateral cooperation, trust and building bridges.
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Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi (second right) addresses fellow participants of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Friday, July 8, 2022. (Reuters/Pool/Willy Kurniawan)
Bem>Below is the transcript of Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi’s speech at the opening session of the second day of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting (FMM), on July 8, 2022 in Nusa Dua, Bali, highlighting multilateral cooperation, trust and building bridges.
Excellencies, Ministers, Distinguished Delegates,
Welcome to Indonesia. I am delighted to host this G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Bali, the “Island of the Gods”. Bali is a Hindu-majority island in a country with the world’s largest Muslim population. But this never stopped Balinese people from living side-by-side in peace and harmony with their Muslim, Christian, Buddhist and Confucian brothers and sisters. This is our experience in Indonesia.
And take a look around us in this room: We are all different and we cannot change this. But while we are different, we all live on the same planet. Here we are sitting together for the first time to discuss important issues confronting all of us. I do hope that from the discussion, we will find ways to move forward.
So let me take this opportunity to convey my highest appreciation to you all. I understand that many of you have taken extra efforts to attend this meeting. Your presence today reflects your support [for] our G20 Presidency and your friendship [for] the Indonesian people. It also reflects your commitment to the G20, to make the G20 relevant and matter.
Our meeting today will be organized in two main sessions:
The first session is on Strengthening Multilateralism, which will focus on how the G20 can ensure multilateralism delivers in view of current global challenges.
The second session is on Addressing Food and Energy Security, and will focus on how the G20 can contribute as part of the solution to current food and energy crises.
Before we begin our first session, allow me to share a few thoughts to frame our discussion.
Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,
We are meeting today at a time of great challenges. The world has yet to recover from the pandemic, but we are already confronted with another crisis: the war in Ukraine. The ripple effects are being felt globally on food, energy and fiscal space. And as always, developing and low-income countries are impacted the most.
Global growth is projected to slow down to 2.9 percent in 2022, while inflation may reach up to 8.7 percent for developing countries.
Can we solve these global problems on our own? The answer is: No.
Global challenges require global solutions. But honestly, we cannot deny that it has become more difficult for the world to sit together. The current situation of the world has made people lose faith in multilateralism and its capacity to respond effectively to global challenges.
Multilateralism is not perfect, but can we imagine if we [had] to live without multilateralism? I am sure the situation [would] be even worse. Unilateralism [would] become the norm, the mighty will take all. Surely, this is not what we want. We all have the responsibility to safeguard multilateralism, to make it deliver.
Multilateralism is the only mechanism [whereby] all countries, regardless of their size and wealth, stand on equal footing and are treated equally. The voices of all countries – big and small, North and South, developed and developing – must be heard.
This is why our G20 Presidency invited, for the first time, representatives of small island developing countries, our brothers and sisters from the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), together with the African Union.
Because in this polarizing world, their interests also matter and their concerns are also our concerns. Multilateralism is also the only way to coordinate effective responses [to] global challenges. But multilateralism can only deliver if there is trust among us.
Therefore, let us try our best to strengthen strategic trust and mutual respect and uphold all [the] foundations and principles that we [have] built since 1945, when the United Nations was established.
The phrases in the UN Charter are clear:
To maintain international peace and security in conformity with the principles of justice and international laws;
To develop friendly relations among nations; and
To achieve international cooperation in solving international problems.
So, it is our responsibility to end the war sooner rather than later and settle our differences at the negotiating table – not [on] the battlefield. It is also our responsibility to build bridges, not walls; to promote common interests, not self-interest; and to be part of the solution.
On our part, my President, President Joko Widodo, held intensive communications with many of your leaders. He actively participated in many international events, including the Group of Seven and partner countries’ summit, the BRICS [Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa] Summit, and many more.
He visited Kyiv and Moscow just a week ago, because peace and humanity are at the heart of our independent and active foreign policy as mandated by our Constitution.
So, we always stand ready to contribute [to] and answer the challenges we face today.
At my level, I did the same. I have spoken to all of you to find solutions to our challenges. I [brought] not only the views of Indonesia, but also the voice and interests of developing countries.
Like I said before, we believe in the importance of building bridges. Therefore, let us use this opportunity to discuss how we can build trust and ensure multilateralism delivers; how to give peace a chance; and how to prevent the triple crisis from turning into a new global catastrophe.
Excellencies,
The world is watching us; so we cannot fail. The G20 must be a beacon of solutions to many global challenges. Only then can the G20 be relevant and benefit the world at large, not only its members.
