The ASEAN member countries must prepare food stocks considering the current increasing food and energy price fluctuations in the world markets, the head of state said in his opening speech of the 18th ASEAN Summit at the Jakarta Convention Hall, here, Saturday.
One of the steps that ASEAN must immediately take is the implementation of "Integrated Food Security Framework" comprehensively especially in the research and development field, and investment in food, he added.
ASEAN must also pay attention to the formulation of food reserve system that could help farmers out of poverty, President Yudhoyono as the ASEAN Chair 2011 said.
He also reminded the ASEAN member countries to deal with energy crisis.
ASEAN must look for a innovative solution by finding renewable and new energy sources which are very much needed to add the energy supply diversity and to reduce the consumption of energy that has negative impact on the environment.
The use of renewable energy must be implemented through the ASEAN Energy Efficiency and Conservation that could speed up the economic and social development in ASEAN member countries.
"ASEAN must strengthen the regional cooperation in the development of renewable and alternative energy sources, including hydro-power and geothermal. Among other things we must promote the establishment of renewable energy research and development centers in our region," he said.
The world population is expected to grow from seven billion to nine billion by 2045. The world will face scarce resources of daily needs.
"The competition for energy, food and clean water will become part of the global competition," he said.(*)
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Editor: Ruslan Burhani
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