At the Southeast Asia Summit for Prosperity and Sustainability at Stanford University, the United States, on Tuesday, he emphasized that as the world's fourth-largest democracy and a natural bridge between Asia, Africa, and the Pacific, Indonesia is strategically placed to support the agenda.
"As the world's fourth-largest democracy and a natural bridge between Asia, Africa, and the Pacific, Indonesia stands ready to help shape a development agenda that is not only sustainable but also equitable," he added in a statement received on Wednesday.
According to the minister, Southeast Asia is no longer just a region that reacts to global change—it is also driving change now.
With economic growth above the global average and a rapidly growing middle class, this region has a great opportunity to lead a more inclusive and sustainable global transformation, he noted.
In the context of Indonesia, AHY listed a number of programs launched by President Prabowo Subianto's administration to support sustainable development.
They include strengthening food and water security, accelerating renewable energy such as geothermal and waste-to-energy, as well as building climate-resistant infrastructure to face the pressures of urbanization and climate change.
"The green transition must be a path to a better life, not just a technocratic target. Solutions must be pragmatic, fair, and meet the real needs of the community," Yudhoyono said.
He also emphasized the importance of bridging global technology with local needs.
"We not only need rapid innovation, but also fair distribution. Technology must be designed along with the community, not just brought from outside," he said.
In the context of regional cooperation, he encouraged the transformation of ASEAN from a consensus forum to a problem-solving platform.
He then invited the US as a long-standing strategic partner to increase involvement in sustainable infrastructure projects in the region.
Prosperity, he said, must be inclusive, and sustainability must also reflect the realities of Southeast Asia, where resilience is built not only in boardrooms, but also in fields, villages, coasts, and informal economies.
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Translator: Ahmad Muzdaffar Fauzan, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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