"Amid a global situation full of fragmentation, middle-income countries (MICs) must not be adrift and lead to a more just, inclusive, and sustainable world," he said at the meeting, according to a statement issued on Wednesday.
He highlighted the changing global situation, marked by increasingly intense competition between major powers, rising protectionism and trade wars, and a weakening multilateral system, as well as efforts by several parties to dismantle it.
"If we fail to stop this decline, more than 100 middle-income countries, which cover 75 percent of the global population, will be pinned down in the middle-income trap," Nasir explained.
He then called for three strategic steps for MICs. First, establishing a concrete collaboration platform through South-South Cooperation, aligning development policies, and expanding access to global financing.
Second, encouraging the reform of the multilateral system so that it reflects the realities and aspirations of developing countries.
Third, increasing intra-middle-income country trade as a collective force, considering that these countries now account for more than 57 percent of the global gross domestic product (GDP).
The deputy minister also outlined Indonesia's development achievements to survive amid global dynamics.
These achievements were secured through Indonesia's commitment to implementing in-depth structural reform policies, carrying out fiscal management, and integrating sustainable development principles (SDGs) into national policies.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Nasir also held bilateral meetings and discussions with several delegations, including the Philippines, Namibia, and the UN Development Coordination Office (DCO) Asia-Pacific team.
The meetings discussed strengthening bilateral strategic cooperation and current geopolitical developments.
The High-Level Conference of Middle-Income Countries was chaired by Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo. It was attended by 16 countries and several UN organizations, as well as global development stakeholders.
The meeting's agenda also included the handover of the chairmanship of the Like-Minded Group on Middle-Income Countries from Morocco to the Philippines.
Indonesia's active involvement in the conference emphasized its strategic role as a leader of developing countries and a major driver of change in the global system.
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Translator: Katriana, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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