"Economic diplomacy cannot be separated from politics, and so there must be a political basis," Soekarnoputri stated after receiving an honorary doctorate (Honoris Causa) in the field of economic diplomacy from Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China, on Monday.
She gave an example of Bung Karno, the first Indonesian president, as one who consistently held the state ideology Pancasila and also carried out economic diplomacy through the implementation of the 1955 Asia Africa Conference.
At that time, Soekarnoputri noted that Karno assigned Indonesian prime minister Ali Sastroamidjojo to meet the Government of the People`s Republic of China to submit an official invitation to attend the 1955 Asia Africa Conference.
"Karno conveyed a message stating that it was time for China to open its doors to the world and then the government of the People`s Republic of China appointed its special envoy, PM Zhou Enlai," Soekarnoputri remarked.
During the opening of the KAA, Karno stated four things. Firstly, people everywhere do not want to be oppressed and exploited by other nations.
Second, people everywhere demand freedom from poverty and fear caused by threats.
Third, people everywhere demand freedom to mobilize constructive social activities in an effort to increase individual and community happiness.
Fourth, people everywhere demand freedom of speech to demand their rights, namely democracy.
Meanwhile, at the opening of the KAA, Enlai delivered a speech affirming that China arrived at the KAA to mobilize unity and not conflict.
Enlai also stressed that the Chinese delegation did not come to disseminate political ideology or the system. What is sought is equality to get rid of suffering and disasters due to colonialism.
At the conference, she further added that Enlai proposed five principles known as Enlai`s Five Peace Principles, namelyto have mutual respect for each other`s sovereignty; not to attack each other; not to interfere with each other`s internal affairs; to maintain equality and mutually beneficial cooperation; and to live side by side peacefully.
The Five Enlai Principles eventually became an important part and the spirit of Dasa Sila Bandung. These 10 principles bring waves of independence from colonized nations in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
According to the Chairman of the Steering Board of the Pancasila Ideology Development Board (BPIP), the principles were very contextual at present, or 63 years after the 1955 KAA was implemented.
Therefore, according to her, economic diplomacy must not be separated from the political foundation that has been written by the founders of the nation.
The General Chairperson of the PDI-P stated that Karno stressed that the international political principle that must be obeyed and implemented by Indonesia is free and active politics.
Free means not being tied to any party, while being active means being actively and sustainably involved in world peace.
"This is also the principle in political and economic diplomacy that I believe and carry out," Soekarnoputri revealed.
She stressed that every country`s desire for a strong economy should not be done by injuring other nations.
Soekarnoputri was awarded the Honoris Causa in the field of Economic Diplomacy by Fujian Normal University, in Fuzhou, China, on Monday.
This Honoris Causa title is the eighth Honorary Doctorate title received by Soekarnoputri.
Previously, she had received seven honorary doctorates from Tokyo Waseda University in Japan (2001); Moscow State Institute of International Relations in Russia (2003); Korea Maritime and Ocean University in South Korea (2015); Padjadjaran University Bandung (2016); Padang State University (2017); Mokpo National University in South Korea (2017), and Doctor Honoris Causa in the field of government politics from the Institute of Domestic Administration (2018).
Reporting by Rangga Pandu Asmara Jingga
(E002/A/INE)
EDITED BY INE
(T.SYS/A/KR-BSR/A/R013) 05-11-2018 16:39:56
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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