VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo said there are two things that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japan can do to restore the region's economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The first thing is to work together to accelerate economic recovery itself. ASEAN can be Japan's main partner in diversifying supply chains as well as expanding investment," President Widodo advised while delivering a virtual speech at the 23rd ASEAN-Japan Summit from the Bogor Palace on Thursday.

"In 2019, for example, Japanese investment in ASEAN reached US$20.3 billion, the second-largest in the region. The ASEAN-Japan trade volume reached US$225.9 billion, while tourist visits between the two parties reached around 10 million people," the President added.

The war on the COVID-19 pandemic is still far from over, and the impact of the pandemic is still being felt by the community, he said.

To overcome this, countries must work hard and work together to drive the economy without ignoring health protocols, he suggested.

"The pandemic has also taught us that economic resilience is closely related to health resilience. Strengthening the health security system must be a priority for ASEAN and Japan cooperation," the President observed.

The Head of State said the establishment of the ASEAN Center for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases has become crucial and urgent, and Indonesia is ready to host the operation center.

"Second, ASEAN and Japan can work together to increase strategic trust by creating a conducive situation in the region because security stability is a prerequisite for the movement of the economy," the President suggested.

When there is a global downturn, there is no room for a trust deficit, he said. On the contrary, strategic trust has to be strengthened, he added.

President Widodo said he believes this can be achieved if each party puts forward a win-win paradigm and collaborates with the other.

"ASEAN and Japan themselves can establish more concrete cooperation through the framework of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific," the President remarked. (Antaranews)