VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian government is encouraging the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum to provide global market access for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through integration into the digital economy.

This encouragement was conveyed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Trade when attending the APEC Forum Ministerial Meeting which was held for the first time virtually on November 16, according to a written statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received in Jakarta, Tuesday.

In her statement, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said that the differences of opinion that have occurred between several economies have disrupted APEC's efforts in the last two years. For that, it is time for APEC to put aside differences and restore world confidence.

This can be done through the Post-2020 APEC Vision which will become APEC's fundamental guide for the next 20 years, continuing the vision of the APEC Bogor Goals 1994 which will end this year.

The Bogor Goals are a declaration produced at the 1994 APEC Summit in Bogor, which aims to create a free trade and investment system in 2010 for developed countries, and at the latest in 2020 for developing countries.

With a strong vision, APEC can achieve strong, balanced, safe, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth. To achieve this goal, the Indonesian Foreign Minister emphasized two things.

First, according to Foreign Minister Retno, the APEC collaboration must benefit all APEC members. This can be achieved by increasing connectivity. APEC must continue and synergize various regional connectivity initiatives, put aside competition, and focus on beneficial cooperation.

Second, the Indonesian Foreign Minister continued, the APEC collaboration must be felt by all residents of APEC countries.

Given that MSMEs represent 97 percent of all businesses and more than 50 percent of the collaborative workforce, APEC must focus on efforts to provide access to the global value chain for MSMEs and encourage MSME participation in the digital economy.

"Therefore, the APEC Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap must be able to support the integration of MSMEs into the digital economy," said Retno.

APEC's Post-2020 Vision targets to achieve an open, dynamic, resilient, and peaceful Asia Pacific community by 2040.

There are three main pillars in achieving the Post-2020 APEC Vision, namely trade and investment, digital and technology, and quality economic growth. It is planned that this vision will be endorsed by the APEC Economic Leaders at the 2020 APEC Summit on 20 November 2020, which will also be held virtually.

The 2020 APEC Ministerial Meeting resulted in an APEC Ministerial Joint Statement containing the results of APEC's work for 2020 including efforts to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of the digital economy and technology, and political support for the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. (Antaranews)

Syria's top diplomat and long-time foreign minister Walid al-Moalem, a staunch defender of Syrian President Bashar al Assad’s bloody crackdown on peaceful protesters that sparked a decade-old conflict, died on Monday, the government said. 

There were no details on the cause of death, but the 79-year old had for years been in poor health with heart problems. A source close to the Syrian government said it was widely expected his deputy, veteran diplomat Faisal Mekdad, would replace his as foreign minister. 

Moalem, who was first appointed foreign minister in 2006 and was also a deputy prime minister, held a succession of top diplomatic posts, including envoy to the United States, and was involved in unsuccessful negotiations with Israel in the 1990s on a peace settlement. 

“He was known for his honorable patriotic positions,” the government said in a statement, adding he died at dawn and would be buried later on Monday in Damascus.

The veteran diplomat saw his country’s tilt further towards Iran and Russia, which have helped shore up Assad’s rule and allowed the authoritarian leader to regain most of the territory he once lost to insurgents.

Moalem, from a Sunni family from Damascus, publicly defended Moscow and Shi’ite Iran’s growing military role, backed by its proxies in Syria, which many Syrian opponents of Assad labeled as an occupation and blamed for fuelling sectarian tension in a Sunni-majority country.

“I am ready to be one of Hassan Nasrallahʹs soldiers,” Moalem said in August 2006, referring to the leader of the Iranian-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah, which has in recent years sent thousands of its members to fight alongside Assad’s forces.

Syria erupted into civil war nearly a decade ago after Assad in 2011 began a crackdown on protesters calling for an end to his family’s rule.

Moalem accused the United States and others in the West of fuelling his country’s unrest and labeled insurgents “terrorists” in a conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands and led to the exodus of millions of refugees.

The veteran diplomat’s last statements attacked the Caesar Act - the toughest U.S. sanctions yet against Damascus which came into force last June, saying they were meant to starve Syrians. He vowed that his country would get economic help from Iran and Russia to soften its blow.

Washington says the goal of the new sanctions is to hold Damascus to account for war crimes and deter it from further pursuing the war. The sanctions exempt humanitarian aid. (Reuters)

The Indonesian government hopes that the partnership between ASEAN and the United States can strengthen peace and prosperity in the region.

This was conveyed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi in a press statement on the third day of the 37th ASEAN Summit series, Saturday at the Presidential Palace, Bogor, West Java.

President Joko Widodo on his third day in the series of 37 ASEAN Summits, attended virtually a number of ASEAN Summit with partner countries.

The summit was held in Vietnam and was attended by President Jokowi via a video conference from the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java.

On the third day of the ASEAN Summit, President Joko Widodo attended the 8th ASEAN-United States Summit, the ASEAN-New Zealand Summit, and the 2nd ASEAN-Australia Summit.

In addition, President Joko Widodo also attended the 23rd ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit and the 15th East Asia Summit.

In the 8th ASEAN-United States Summit meeting, Indonesia hopes that the friendship between ASEAN and the United States will remain strong in the future.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, who was present to represent President Joko Widodo at the meeting, said that the United States is one of ASEAN's strategic partners in the Region. The partnership between the two parties has existed for more than four decades which has evolved into cooperation in various strategic areas.

"In the future, Indonesia still hopes that the United States will become an important and strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific region, including in the implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific," Retno said.

"This partnership is expected to be a positive force to create regional peace, stability, and prosperity," she added.

In the past four years, in the economic and development sector, the United States has continued to be ASEAN's second-largest trade and investment partner.

According to Retno Marsudi, the trading volume of the two parties increased by 39 percent from US $ 211.8 billion to US $ 294.6 billion.

"US investment has also increased 110 percent in the region, from US $ 11.65 billion to US $ 24.5 billion," she said.

In the energy sector, Retno said, ASEAN together with the United States had also prepared a long-term cooperation plan for 2021-2025.

This is coupled with cooperation in the digital economy sector through capacity building programs of 4,000 MSMEs that have been carried out in this region.

In the last 10 months, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Retno Marsudi said the partnership between ASEAN and the United States in the health sector has also strengthened.

At the meeting, the United States was represented by National Security Advisor Robert C. O'Brien who was present to represent President Donald Trump. (VOI)