Indonesia has urged countries worldwide to collaborate and unite to tackle potential international security risks.
Speaking in the first plenary session of the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing on Monday, Indonesian Deputy Defense Minister M. Herindra said that all countries share a responsibility to support each other, especially during difficult times.
“When we encounter obstacles or troubles, working together with unity and cooperation can alter our perspective toward a problem or dispute. Jointly, we establish a supportive and optimistic ambiance, promoting development and maintaining peaceful surroundings,” Herindra said at the forum, as quoted from a press release.
Herindra was representing Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto during the event, which gathered defense ministers, military chiefs and other high-ranking defense officials from across the world. The forum is dubbed China’s biggest annual show of military diplomacy.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seiha, Brazilian Armed Forces Joint Chief of Staff Renato Rodrigues de Aguiar Freire and ASEAN secretary-general Kao Kim Hourn were all speakers at the first plenary session.
Herindra said that in today’s connected world, no nation can act single-mindedly. Problems like cyber threats, territorial disputes and global health crises impact countries and transcend national boundaries. To tackle these issues, cooperation and collective efforts are important.
“Even the mightiest countries cannot succeed alone,” Herindra said.
While acknowledging that powerful countries with military, economic and diplomatic power can have a large impact on the world, Herindra insisted that developing countries could make a significant contribution as well.
He therefore suggested that countries work together according to international law principles that respect independence and sovereignty.
Herindra called on countries to develop an economic partnership and establish a prosperous global supply chain network. This strategy will foster “mutual reliance between nations, bringing an end to trade wars and economic-based upheavals”.
With the collaborative and economic cooperation approach, regional and international security stability can be achieved, he said.
State news agency Xinhua reported that the number and level of foreign participants, including 22 defense ministers and 14 military chiefs, are the highest this year since the forum was first held in 2006. In particular, China is focusing its outreach on the Global South.
Indonesia is slated to host the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM) on Nov. 15 as well as the ADMM Plus, which will gather defense ministers from ASEAN and its dialogue partners on Nov. 16 in Jakarta.
