The internet and media technology must be used in digital diplomacy to thwart the growing threats of violent extremism and terrorism.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi endorsed the use of digital diplomacy to spread the message of peace while addressing the regional conference on digital diplomacy in Jakarta on Tuesday.

"Internet and media technology must be utilized in digital diplomacy to thwart the growing threats of violent extremism and terrorism," she noted.

The minister highlighted the need for digital diplomacy to ensure that social media and online platforms can contribute to varied efforts in fighting violent extremism and terrorism.

The Indonesian government should embrace technology giants, including Facebook, Google, Instagram, and Twitter, to spread the messages of peace and tolerance, she emphasized.

"The idea is simple, to make the technology industry ready to lay down the fundamentals for world leaders, religious figures, and community leaders to disseminate the messages of tolerance and peace online," she stated.

To this end, diplomacy must be able to adapt to transformation resulting from the digital global speed, so that it will remain relevant," she stated.

"The internet may serve as a source of conflict. Of course, this is beyond the goal of diplomacy. For this reason, the world of diplomacy must run parallel to the digital world," she emphasized.

The Indonesian government is holding a regional conference on digital diplomacy on Sept 10-11, with attendees comprising representatives of 16 nations: 10 ASEAN member states, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam and six other countries: Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand.

The regional conference on digital diplomacy will serve as a forum for relevant stakeholders in the region to discuss opportunities and challenges on diplomacy activities in the digital era and ways to capitalize on information and communication technology effectively in diplomacy towards achieving common progress and prosperity.

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Translator: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga/Suharto
Editor: Sri Haryati
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