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Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut B. Pandjaitan after giving a keynote speech at the High Level Multiparty Partnership Forum (HLP MSP) on Tuesday (03/09/2024), (Photo : Kemenkomarves) - 

VOInews, Bali : Indonesia is the largest archipelagic country in the world, supported by abundant natural resources for the energy transition. For years, Indonesia has depended on commodity exports in the form of raw materials.

Dependence on exports of raw materials causes Indonesia to experience a high current account deficit when commodity prices decline. This was conveyed by the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut B. Pandjaitan in a keynote speech at the High Level Multiparty Partnership Forum (HLP MSP) on Tuesday (03/09/2024).

"The government is seeking economic transformation through Downstream Policy to encourage industrial development. In future, the Government will build a high added value industrial base to support the increasingly rapid digitalization of the economy," said Coordinating Minister Luhut.

Furthermore, Coordinating Minister Luhut explained that in pursuing economic transformation, the government is also allocating low-emission energy sources for industry to increase added value.

"forming a quality talent pool through a screening program for undergraduate graduates majoring in engineering and science to be directed to work in world-class companies in the technology sector," he explained.

"The downstream policy also contributes to increasing the export value of downstream nickel products such as iron, steel and lithium battery materials. Indonesia is currently developing a domestic lithium battery industry ecosystem. The main goal of downstream nickel is to create a competitive ecosystem in the lithium battery and electric vehicle value chain ," said Coordinating Minister Luhut.

Coordinating Minister Luhut added, "The Indonesian government is also working with leading companies from China, Japan, South Korea and the United States to ensure that their downstream industries, namely stainless steel, EV battery components such as cathodes, battery cells and packaging receive supplies "There is enough processed nickel from Indonesia," he added//VOI

Pope Francis visited the Youth Graha of the Jakarta Cathedral Church complex on Wednesday (04/09), (Photo : Kemenkomarves) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : In his historic visit to Indonesia, Pope Francis visited the Youth Graha of the Jakarta Cathedral Church complex on Wednesday (04/09) and issued an appeal to the world to protect the planet, just as Indonesia prepares to hold the 2024 Indonesia International Sustainability Forum (ISF) organized by the Coordinating Ministry Maritime and Investment Sector and supported by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

More than 11,000 participants from 53 countries have registered to attend the Indonesia International Sustainability Forum (ISF) 2024 which will be opened by President Joko Widodo on September 5.

Pope Francis is known as a staunch supporter of climate action and has urged world leaders to adhere to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which aims to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C.

During his two-day visit to Indonesia, the Pope will lead a big mass at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium (GBK) Jakarta in front of more than 80 thousand people. This visit marks the first visit by a Vatican leader to Indonesia in 35 years, after Pope John Paul II.

During his visit to the Cathedral, Pope Francis received mangrove tree seedlings from the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Pandjaitan, as a symbol of respect for the protection of biodiversity in Indonesia. Our island nation has the largest and most diverse mangrove ecosystem in the world with an area of ​​3.44 million hectares, covering around 23% of the world's total mangrove area. Stretching along the archipelago's coastlines, mangrove forests in Indonesia provide important support for local communities and the environment, including Carbon Sequestration, Biodiversity Conservation, Coastal Resilience, and Livelihoods.

“We are very grateful to Pope Francis for his commitment to advocating for climate action and sustainability. The message of hope and unity brought by Pope Francis is in line with Indonesia's commitment to pushing the sustainability agenda. "I believe his visit to Indonesia is a strong reminder of our shared responsibility to protect this planet for future generations," said Luhut.

Also present to witness the handover of mangrove tree seedlings to Pope Francis was the Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Arsjad Rasjid. “The climate crisis knows no borders or religions. Therefore, all parties need to join the global campaign to confront one of humanity's greatest crises. "In this context, religious communities, including Catholic Church leaders, play an important role in mobilizing public support for governments around the world to fulfill their commitments," said Arsjad.

Pope Francis plans to give his blessing to mangrove tree seedlings before distributing them to five locations throughout Indonesia: Jakarta, Bali, East Nusa Tenggara, East Kalimantan and North Sumatra.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Wednesday (04/09/24), Mangrove ecosystems around the world have been threatened in recent decades due to land use change, coastal development and pollution. It is hoped that today's symbolic movement can have a positive impact on the protection of mangrove ecosystems in Indonesia and throughout the world.

Pope Francis was originally scheduled to visit Indonesia in September 2020, but his visit was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. His visit to Indonesia was part of a tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania which also included visits to Singapore, Timor Leste and Papua New Guinea.

On Earth Day this year, Pope Francis wrote in a message on social media, "Our generation has inherited much wealth, but we have failed to protect the planet, and we have not safeguarded peace. We are called to be craftsmen and guardians of our common home, the Earth that is 'fall into ruin'//VOI

The handover of the Jikji award was carried out by Director Fackson Banda to the Acting Director of the National Library, E. Aminudin Aziz, who was accompanied by the Chair of the National Library's Archipelago Manuscript Management Working Group, Aditia Gunawan, in Cheongju, South Korea, on Wednesday (4/9/2024), (Photo : Perpusnas) - 

VOInews, South Korea : The National Library of the Republic of Indonesia (Perpusnas) received the 10th edition of the UNESCO/Jikji Memory of the World (MoW) Prize in 2024. In the 10th edition of the Jikji Prize in 2024, National Library will be the tenth institution to receive this award and the first from Indonesia.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Wednesday (04/09/24) in Jakarta, the judges assessed the extraordinary contribution of the National Library to efforts to preserve and expand access to Indonesian manuscripts, through the implementation of extensive programs in saving and increasing access to documentary heritage over the last two decades.

UNESCO Documentary Heritage Director Fackson Banda said that the National Library had won the Jikji Prize after beating many countries.

"National Library succeeded in becoming the winner from 49 nominees from 49 countries," he explained.

The handover of the Jikji award was carried out by Director Fackson Banda to the Acting Director of the National Library, E. Aminudin Aziz, who was accompanied by the Chair of the National Library's Archipelago Manuscript Management Working Group, Aditia Gunawan, in Cheongju, South Korea, on Wednesday (4/9/2024).

In his speech, Plt. The Director of the National Library expressed his deep appreciation to UNESCO and the Mayor of Cheongju. "This award is a great honor for us, because the work we have done over the past few years in collecting, preserving, conserving and presenting heritage in Indonesia, is recognized as priceless and worthy of appreciation by UNESCO and the City of Cheongju through this award," he said .

He emphasized that this award comes at the right time, in line with the new grand design that the National Library has prepared for the next few years, which sets the Nusantara manuscript as a priority program.

"The announcement of this nomination is very timely for us at National Library, because it coincides with the new grand design that we have set to promote and make Indonesian manuscripts a priority program," he said.

For this reason, we need international collaboration, because Indonesian manuscripts are not only found in Indonesia but are also in the collections of international libraries or private manuscript collectors.

“This award is a starting point for expanding international cooperation. "National Library has started an initiative to build a global network with libraries in England, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Egypt," he explained.

National Library, he explained, would take advantage of this opportunity to maximize the benefits of ancient manuscripts for the public.

Meanwhile, UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay congratulated National Library for this achievement. He highlights the importance of manuscripts as windows into understanding past history, culture and lived experiences.

“Our collective efforts to improve the preservation and accessibility of documentary heritage must continue. "I congratulate the National Library for this well-deserved award," he said.

The Jikji Prize is sponsored by the Cheongju City Government. The name of the prize is inspired by the book Jikji, a book of the first movable metal prints produced in 1377 in Cheongju City. This book contains Buddhist teachings which was registered as Memory of the World in 2001.

The Jikji Prize is an award given by UNESCO to individuals, institutions or non-governmental organizations in member countries who contribute significantly to efforts to preserve and expand access to documentary heritage, including ancient manuscripts//VOI

VOINews, Xiamen: The ASEAN-China Youth Exchange Camp, held from August 26 to 31, 2024, in Xiamen, China, successfully concluded, marking another milestone in the over 30-year partnership between ASEAN and China. The event, sponsored by the ASEAN-China Cooperation Funds, was hosted by the ASEAN Foundation and Xiamen University, with support from the Mission of the People’s Republic of China to ASEAN.

Centered around the theme "Digital Economy: Fostering ASEAN-China Partnership through Digital Economy Cooperation for Sustainable Economic Growth," the camp aimed to strengthen relations and understanding among young people from ASEAN countries and China. It featured a series of lectures, discussions, and experiential learning activities, focusing on topics such as "China's Digital Economy Development" and "China's Smart Governance and Development." Participants also engaged in discussions on "Digital China Today" and "China-ASEAN Relations in the Era of Digital Interconnectivity."

Beyond the academic exchanges, the youth participants were immersed in cultural experiences, visiting Xiamen University, digital companies, traditional fishing villages, World Heritage sites, and projects showcasing China's cultural heritage. These visits provided the participants with a deeper understanding of China's rapidly developing digital economy and the evolving China-ASEAN relationship in the digital age.

Professor Zhang Miao, Vice Dean of the School of International Relations / Research School for Southeast Asian Studies at Xiamen University, emphasized the significance of the event: "2024 is the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges, and we hope that through this Youth Exchange Camp, young people from China and ASEAN countries can better understand each other, providing new energy for the development of China-ASEAN relations in the future."

The camp also featured notable participation from Indonesian students, including Arrizqy Nadya Khairunissa Yulianto from the University of Indonesia and Yulianty from Tanjungpura University. Their involvement underscores Indonesia's commitment to strengthening cooperation with China in the digital economy and finding innovative solutions to enhance the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and ASEAN.

The ASEAN-China Youth Exchange Camp succeeded in building bridges of mutual understanding and friendship between young people from both regions. The event is expected to contribute significantly to the development of digital economic cooperation, particularly between Indonesia and China, as both nations continue to deepen their strategic partnership in the digital era./Xiamen University-Surinah/VOI/Ofra