The ASEAN-Australia Summit shows the importance of Southeast Asian countries for the organizers. Indonesia must be more serious regarding taking advantage of opportunities for cooperation with Australia.
“The ASEAN-Australia Summit provides many opportunities for Indonesia. This ASEAN-Australia Summit is very special because it commemorates the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Australia cooperation, this is a momentum to overcome obstacles to Indonesia-Australia cooperation,” said Professor of International Relations at Muhammadiyah University Yogyakarta (UMY) Faris Al-Fadhat to Media Indonesia, Wednesday (6/3).
According to the Vice Chancellor of UMY, the ASEAN countries are very close to Australia, like China and Japan. But the value of trade and other cooperation is still minimal.
“Australia is closest to ASEAN but its trade value is not optimal compared to Japan and China. So it is natural that the main priority of this summit is to discuss the economy, followed by security and culture,” he explained.
Faris also reminded that Indonesia is still far behind other ASEAN countries in utilizing cooperation with Australia. Malaysia and Singapore are superior to Jakat.
Obstacles in increasing exports and imports from Jakarta to Canberra have long been insurmountable. So Jokowi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meeting on the sidelines of this summit and one of them discussing this issue is appropriate.
“I hope this meeting can increase cooperation between the two countries,” he concluded. (Z-8)
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