G77 should become moral guide of multilateralism: Indonesian FM

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi emphasized the importance of the G77 group as a moral compass of multilateralism, solidarity, and mutually beneficial partnership.

Marsudi made the statement through the online press briefing by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saturday, while attending the G77 Summit in Havana, Cuba, on September 15-16, 2023.

The minister represented President of Indonesia Joko Widodo at the G77 Summit. Meanwhile, the G77 is a cooperative group of UN member countries comprising 134 developing countries, with the main agenda of advancing development cooperation.

At the G77 Summit, Marsudi emphasized three important aspects, with the first being the importance to strengthen multilateralism. According to the minister, the G77 should become a moral guide of multilateralism, solidarity, and mutually beneficial partnership.

Secondly, the minister also stressed about the importance of the G77 in encouraging efforts to strengthen development rights in developing countries, including the rights to develop the downstream industry and become a part of the global supply chain.

She remarked that science, technology, and innovation (STI) played a crucial role. Hence, the G77 should be able to push for stronger STI access for developing countries.

Furthermore, the minister emphasized the third important aspect that Indonesia encourages strengthening cooperation in the STI field and is ready to contribute, both through the NAM Centre for South-South Cooperation and Indonesian development cooperation.

On the occasion, Marsudi also highlighted Indonesia’s presidency at the G20 in 2022 and its chairmanship of ASEAN this year.

The minister noted that the task was not easy to fulfill. However, she is grateful that Indonesia can carry out the task well.

Indonesia had shown its strong commitment to bringing the interests of developing countries into the two chairmanships, she said.

Furthermore, the minister also emphasized the importance of unity and solidarity from the G77 group since from one crisis to the other, developing countries are always affected the most.

Marsudi also noted that the “Bandung Spirit,” which emphasized the need for developing countries to continue to strengthen the solidarity, solidity, and cooperation, has become relevant at this time.