US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken delivered a speech on the importance of the Indo-Pacific region and underscored the importance of the Strategic Partnership between the US and Indonesia. During his visit and speech at Universitas Indonesia (UI) Depok campus on Tuesday (14/12), Blinken was welcomed by UI Rector Prof. Ari Kuncoro and his staff including the University Secretary, Vice Rectors, Chair of the Board of Trustees Saleh Husin, M.Si., Chair of the Board of Professors Prof. Harkristuti Harkrisnowo, as well as Directors and Heads of work units within the University Administration Center. Meanwhile, also present on the occasion were US Ambassador to RI Sung Y. Kim, as well as ambassadors of friendly countries.
UI University Secretary Dr. Agustin Kusumayati, Ph.D., gave an introduction and welcoming speech that in accordance with its name, UI is proud to carry the good name of the nation. According to him, UI recognizes this as a privilege and also a responsibility. “UI has a vision to be the center of science, technology, and culture and how UI carries out its mission to benefit the people of Indonesia and the world,” he said representing the UI Rector.
Furthermore, Agustin said that various complex problems are ongoing such as the Covid-19 pandemic, natural disasters, global warming, climate change which have no instant solutions. But UI believes that by investing time, meeting our minds, gathering ideas, and gaining inspiration, we can turn it into collaboration and action. “Today marks a unique moment for us. It is an honor and a privilege to have the US Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken among us to share his views. We strongly believe that diversity of knowledge will go hand in hand with a single goal to safeguard our future generations while at the same time to solve the challenges we face today,” he said.
“It’s wonderful to be back in Jakarta, and in Southeast Asia’s largest democracy,” Blinken began his speech. He also greeted the participants, especially UI students who were looking forward to having another face-to-face meeting. According to Blinken, he came to the region because what happens in the Indo-Pacific shapes the trajectory of the world in the 21st century. The Indo-Pacific is the fastest-growing region on the planet, accounting for 60 percent of the world economy, and two-thirds of all economic growth over the past five years.
There are five core elements that Blinken wants to establish as a shared vision and how to collectively realize it. First, it will promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. “That freedom is about being able to write your future and being able to have a say in your community and country. Openness will naturally flow from free places open to new information and points of view,” he said.
Second, Blinken said that the US will forge stronger ties within and outside the region. “We will strengthen our partnership with a strong and independent ASEAN. Third, we will promote broad-based prosperity. We will help close the region’s infrastructure gaps in ports, roads, power grids, broadband – all of which are building blocks for global trade, commerce, connectivity, opportunity and prosperity – and all of which are essential for the inclusive growth of the Indo-Pacific,” he said.
Fourth, the US will help build a more resilient Indo-Pacific especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. We have shipped more than a hundred million doses of safe effective vaccines to the Indo-Pacific and more than 25 million of them have come to Indonesia. By the end of next year, we will have donated more than 1.2 billion doses to the world,” Blinken said.
“Finally, we will enhance Indo-Pacific security. Threats are evolving, and our security approach must evolve with them. To do that, we will lean on our greatest strengths, our alliances and partnerships,” Blinken said in his speech.
Blinken arrived in Indonesia on Monday (13/12) to meet with Indonesian President Joko Widodo. A number of missions are carried out, including strengthening partnerships and commitments in the Indo-Pacific region. During the meeting, Blinken discussed how Indonesia and the US can work together to maintain security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. Indonesia was the first country Blinken visited on his Southeast Asia tour. This is Blinken’s first visit to Southeast Asia since US President Joe Biden was inaugurated in January.
