Indonesia’s Jokowi tells G20 ‘it cannot fail’ as ‘another cold war’ looms in a world divided

Hosting a successful G20 could boost Joko Widodo’s international standing and cement the president’s legacy, analysts say – but much more is at stake

His opening remarks came as the global economy is being buffeted by sharpening geopolitical rivalries, food and energy crises, war and the pandemic

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Indonesian President Joko Widodo speaks on Tuesday during the opening day of the G20 leaders summit in Bali. Photo: AFP

Published: 2:35pm, 15 Nov 2022Updated: 2:40pm, 15 Nov 2022

Indonesia’s president Joko Widodo pleaded with world leaders on Tuesday to respect international laws and avert a “cold war”, as Southeast Asia’s biggest economy kicked off one of the trickiest G20 summits since the economic forum’s inception more than two decades ago.

In front of dozens of leaders gathered on the Indonesian island of Bali, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden, Widodo said it took “extraordinary efforts” to get everyone together in the same room.

“Today the eyes of the world are fixed upon our meeting. Are we going to achieve success, or will we add more to our failures? For myself, the G20 has to succeed, and it cannot fail” said Widodo, who is popularly known as Jokowi.

Widodo (rear, centre) speaks during the summit in Bali on Tuesday. Photo: AP

Calling for an end to “the war”, without mentioning Ukraine or Russia by name, Widodo admonished the assembled leaders to be “responsible” and refrain from creating “zero-sum situations”.

“We should not divide the world into parts,” he said. “We must not let the world fall into another cold war.”

Hosting a successful G20 could cement Widodo’s legacy among Indonesians and boost his international standing before his term ends in 2024, analysts say – but the road to the summit’s opening on Tuesday was anything but smooth.

Widodo went to Russia on a “peace mission” in June and had sought President Vladimir Putin’s attendance at this week’s summit, refusing to withdraw the invitation – despite pressure from the US and other members of the G7 club of wealthy nations – as he sought to maintain a neutral position for his country, which holds the G20’s rotating presidency.

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