VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has said he believes the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India can forge cooperation in various fields to address a wide range of challenges that may lie ahead.

India can serve as ASEAN's strategic partner in strengthening medical capacity in the region, particularly to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic, including increasing the production capacity of COVID-19 drugs and vaccines, raw materials for the production of medicines, and conducting joint research and development in the health sector, he said.

"We must encourage access to affordable healthcare for all," the President said while addressing the virtual 17th ASEAN-India Summit from the Bogor Presidential Palace in West Java on Thursday.

In addition to the health sector, the ASEAN-India partnership could be directed towards restoring the regional economy, which has been battered by the COVID-19 pandemic, he added.

He noted that the growth of digital platforms has been able to drive the economy.

As one of the countries with a large and rapidly growing digital economy ecosystem, India can expand cooperation with ASEAN member states, which are also developing their digital economy potential, he said.

Collaboration in increasing cybersecurity is badly needed, he pointed out and lauded India's scholarship program for one thousand ASEAN scientists.

"I warmly welcome doctoral scholarships for one thousand ASEAN scientists to study at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). The initiative of His Excellency (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) was launched in 2018. The collaboration will cement the basis for ASEAN-India digital cooperation," he remarked. (Antaranews)