Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has called for joint action between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations (UN) to address global challenges.
"Amid the world's challenges, which are becoming more complex, war and conflict, food crisis, energy crisis, financial crisis and disasters, our people are the ones that are most affected," he said at the 13th ASEAN-UN Summit in Jakarta on Thursday.
In his opening remarks, Jokowi said that the preambles to the ASEAN and UN charters begin with "We the peoples", which means that the people must continue to be prioritized.
He stressed that amid the increasingly complex global challenges, coordinated joint action, both by the UN at the global level and ASEAN at the Indo-Pacific level, is needed.
The effectiveness of ASEAN and the UN's work is often hindered by geopolitical dynamics, he said.
In this case, ASEAN and the UN have clear choices to be consistent in respecting international law as a basis for interactions between nations and a paradigm of inclusive collaboration, he said.
Jokowi called for joint action to promote a development agenda that is fairer for developing countries, including the right to progress and to prosper.
He also stated that global governance reform must also be promoted to be fit for its purpose and timely.
"Let us bolster cooperation between ASEAN and the UN for the good of the people of the world," he said.
The ASEAN-UN Summit was organized as part of the 43rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits held in Jakarta from September 5 to 7, 2023, under Indonesia's ASEAN chairmanship.
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