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
“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.
“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.
G20 in Bali is a big moment for middle powers like Indonesia
“I am convinced now is the time when the Russian destructive war must and can be stopped,” he said, according to a copy of the speech obtained by Agence France-Presse. “It will save thousands of lives.”
Success will only be achieved if all of us … put aside our differences to produce something concrete
Widodo, in his opening remarks, said “success will only be achieved if all of us, without exception, are committed, work hard, put aside our differences to produce something concrete, something that is beneficial to the world.”
Why Asia faces a looming ‘rice crisis’ amid ‘inevitable’ price rises
“Don’t underestimate the problem of fertiliser,” Widodo said. “If we don’t immediately take steps to ensure sufficient availability of fertiliser at an affordable price, then 2023 will be a more dismal year. The current high food prices could worsen by becoming a food supply crisis. Fertiliser scarcity will cause crop failure in various parts of the world.”
Some 48 developing countries will face “very serious conditions” if food insecurity isn’t addressed, Widodo said, concluding his remarks with the hope that G20 members “do not just talk, but take concrete steps” to achieve inclusive economic recovery.
‘Today’s era must not be of war’
A draft communique circulating on Tuesday stated that “most members” of the G20 “strongly condemned the war in Ukraine”, adding “it is causing immense human suffering and exacerbating existing fragilities in the global economy”.
The document, which must still be approved by G20 leaders before it is officially issued at the summit’s close on Wednesday, echoes some of Widodo’s opening remarks, stating “today’s era must not be of war”.
Our new world war of economics, trade and alliances
War was “constraining growth, increasing inflation, disrupting supply chains, heightening energy and food insecurity, and elevating financial stability risks”, the draft was cited as saying by the Financial Times newspaper.
“The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible. The peaceful resolution of conflicts, efforts to address crises, as well as diplomacy and dialogue, are vital,” it added.
The draft notes there were “other views” and that the “G20 is not the forum to resolve security issues”, but members acknowledged that security issues could “have significant consequences for the global economy”.
Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse
