Inp.polri.go.id – Jakarta. President emphasized the importance of ASEAN-Australia collaboration during his speech at the ASEAN-Australia Summit. Jokowi states that ASEAN and Australia share the responsibility in maintaining stability, peace, and harmony of the region. “As the oldest speech partner, comprehensive strategic partner, and the liaison partner for the Pacific Region, ASEAN and Australia shares the region where its stability, peace, and harmony become our joint responsibility,” remarks Jokowi on Wednesday (3/6/2024). Jokowi states that ASEAN is predicted to be the global economic power and will sits at the fourth place in 2040. With a total population more than 650 million people, which most of them are promising youths with high digital literacy, Jokowi emphasized the importance of Australia support in optimizing that potentials. For that, Jokowi aims to push economic collaboration even further by strengthening economic integration, one of which is through 2040 Southeast Asia-Australia Economic Strategy to push Australian investment in Southeast Asia. On the other end, he hopes Australia would open the door wider for ASEAN investment to Australia. According to Jokowi, both parties need to optimize several cooperation frameworks such as ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area and ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. Moreover, Jokowi also highlights the importance of investment and support from Australia in facing climate change and cooperation in digital economy. Jokowi states that the support from Australia is necessary, particularly in the form of investment, easy access for innovative funding, and technology transfer. “I also push the Australian entrepreneurs to support the establishment of Electric Vehicle ecosystem in ASEAN, for example such as the Australian Nickel Industries who have invested in Morowali, Sulawesi. Indonesia is against the black campaign and discrimination who hides behind green ecosystem without any scientific proofs,” said Jokowi. Regarding the digital transformation cooperation, Jokowi appreciates with the discussion for ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement has begun in last year. He hopes for Australia to give their support through knowledge and skill development, and private and public partnership. In his closing remarks, Jokowi reminds that ASEAN and Australia shares the same future and has to be the driving force in building peace, balanced, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. (ad/ndt/pr/nm)