Fajarasia.co – The Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, spoke about the importance of global cooperation at the opening of the 8th G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20). In front of the parliamentary leaders of the G20 countries, he reminded that global challenges must be faced together.
The P20 event which is a series of the G20 Summit was opened by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the DPR Building, Senayan, Jakarta, Thursday (6/10/2022). A number of leaders of high state institutions were also present.
“Welcome to the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia to the P20 participants! It is an honor for Indonesia to be able to host the implementation of the 8th G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20) in 2022,” said Puan to the leaders of the G20 parliaments and invited guests.
According to him, the implementation of the P20 aims to mobilize Parliament’s cooperation in supporting the agenda and implementation of the G20 agreement. In particular, said Puan, within the framework of global recovery, achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and overcoming various other global challenges.
“We meet at a moment where the world has just faced the Covid-19 pandemic and every country is carrying out social and economic recovery from the impact of the pandemic,” he said.
Puan reminded that the current global economic condition places every country in high vulnerability marked by a surge in inflation, monetary policy response, economic slowdown, geopolitical conflict, and widespread stagflation. This condition is expected to continue in 2023.
“In addition, we also still have a number of global agendas to respond to through real work, including issues related to climate change, the environment, a green economy, food and energy security, as well as gender equality and women’s empowerment,” said Mrs.
The first woman to serve as Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives said that the P20 meeting was very strategic because the G20 controlled 85% of the world economy and had 65% of the world’s population. So, according to Puan, the concrete actions of the G20 will have real impacts and benefits, not only for the G20 but also for the world.
“In facing the global turmoil and challenges ahead, no single country is able to face it alone. Every country needs cooperation with other countries,” he said.
Puan said that local problems could easily develop into global crises that could have an impact on the daily lives of people in various countries. Therefore, every country must always take into account the possibility of a global crisis in every policy making in the country.
“It is clear that today all the problems of our world are interconnected. So we need a joint response that involves various groups and perspectives,” said Puan.
Puan assessed that it needed joint work, collaboration, mutual cooperation between countries in the form of international cooperation, mutual cooperation between parties involving various stakeholders, and mutual cooperation between fields, through a multi-sectoral approach involving security, political, economic, social solutions.
“Each country has the capacity and capability to deal with the risk of crisis threats. Through joint work, collaboration, and mutual assistance between countries, it is hoped that each country can increase the responsiveness of each country to tackle global problems,” said Puan.
“We can only do this if we treat this P20 Forum Session with a strong commitment, to save the fate of the world which is determined by the decisions we will make,” he continued.
Puan said that people in all countries have high hopes that the P20 will contribute to solving various global turmoil and challenges that have hit the world. P20 itself takes the theme ‘Stronger Parliament for Sustainable Recovery’ which is in line with the theme of the G20 Indonesia Presidency ‘Recover Together, Recover Stronger’.
“The power of parliament, the P20, is to represent the voice of the global people. P20 provides legitimacy for the Government’s efforts, in carrying out foreign policy commitments, post-pandemic recovery and responding to global challenges,” explained Puan.
P20 was formed as one of the G20 Engagement Groups to bring elements of democracy, and strengthen the accountability of the G20 agenda. The P20 is said to strengthen the G20 agenda for the consolidation of an inclusive, resilient and green global recovery.
Not only that, the P20 can also play a role in providing parliamentary perspectives, contributing to bridging differences between countries (parliament is part of the solution), and strengthening interactions and networks between parliamentary Speakers of G20 countries. In fact, said Puan, it can be extended to other partner countries.
“Parliament has the opportunity to convey the perspective of the aspirations of the people who want “new hope” in managing a world order that is more humanistic, friendly, comfortable, and prosperous for everyone,” he said.
In realizing the parliament’s commitment to provide a new hope, Puan assessed that a commitment to work together between countries is needed in building mutual progress. Then also in building global values that promote peace, tolerance, and solidarity in brotherhood, as well as a real agenda for joint work between countries.
“We have the awareness that it is necessary to work together in overcoming global problems. But at the same time, we see a world that is increasingly divided. We see each country stepping unilaterally, we are witnessing increasing rivalry,” said Puan.
“Collaboration, working together, not to be a winner takes all, but we want all to be winner. The commitment between countries for mutual progress has become a new hope, as the aspirations of the people, who increasingly want the world to have a humane face,” added the former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture.
Puan once again voiced the spirit and principle of ‘no one left behind’ for mutual progress. According to him, a culture of peace and tolerance is increasingly needed in strengthening interactions between nations and countries.
“Collaborative work between parliaments can play an important role in spreading a culture of peace and tolerance, which is increasingly needed in the face of current geopolitical tensions. Dialogue and diplomacy in solving various global problems are the main protocols in any joint work between countries,” said Puan.
The grandson of the Proclaimer of the Republic of Indonesia, Bung Karno, stated that joint work between countries ultimately requires a real work agenda that can be started through small steps to arrive at big goals. Puan said that the P20 meeting is expected to be able to establish a mutual agreement that can encourage concrete action to resolve various global problems.
“Indonesia, with its spirit of gotong royong, is ready, willing and able to collaborate with the global world in building a world with new hope, a world with shared progress; a more humane world, a better world, a world that is prosperous, peaceful and beautiful,” he said.
Indonesia’s readiness to collaborate with the global world in articulating a world full of new hope, called Puan, can be demonstrated by an inclusive national development policy. Then development that prioritizes the presence of the state in protecting the people economically and socially, and is oriented towards sustainable development.
“These things can be seen from infrastructure development for the progress of all regions, comprehensive and massive social programs, economic stimulus in the national economic recovery program, carbon tax regulations and new renewable energy; and so on,” explained Puan.
Puan also believes that the P20 meeting will be able to produce the right formulation and can be implemented (implementable) in support of the G20 agreement. Especially in the framework of global recovery, achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and addressing various global challenges.
“The formulation of a shared commitment is important. But concrete actions, no matter how small, become more important for us to get closer to achieving our goals,” he said.
“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success. These words are to remind all of us that the success of the P20 if we can realize real work together,” continued Puan quoting Henry Ford’s words.
He emphasized that now is the time to act without delay (without any delay). Puan said that currently history has provided an opportunity for the parliaments of the G20 countries to build a better world order.
“This is the commitment of the Parliament of the G20 countries, the Stronger Parliament for Sustainable Recovery.
We take this opportunity to build a world that has a human face, has a culture of love for humanity, love for peace, and love for the natural environment,” he said.
“If we have a strong desire from the heart, then the whole universe will work together to make it happen. Make a better place for you and for me and the entire human race. One earth for all,” added Puan.
In the opening of the P20, the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Duarte Pacheco also gave a speech. Meanwhile, the Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) Antonio Guterres delivered a message via video.
All parliamentary leaders of G20 countries attended this prestigious international forum. Among them are the Speaker of the British People’s Council Sir Lindsay Harvey Hoyle, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the United States House of Representatives Gregory Meeks, the Speaker of the Upper House of the Russian Parliament Valentina Matviyenko and the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament Olena Kondratiuk.
Then there was also the Chairman of the United Arab Emirates National Federal Council Saqr Ghobash, the Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives Milton Dick, Deputy Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Zhu Chen, and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Korea Kim Young Joo.*****
