I warmly welcome the constructive role being played by religious and cultural leaders throughout ASEAN who are participating in the ASEAN Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue Conference 2023 — a strategic initiative of Nahdlatul Ulama and the Republic of Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I hope that this forum will contribute to the broadening and deepening of mutual understanding and become a solid foundation upon which ASEAN can rise as a global epicentrum of harmony and growth.
~ H.E. Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia
Remarks by H.E. Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia
Delivered to inaugural ASEAN Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue Conference
Jakarta, 7 August 2023
May the peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you (Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh).Good morning.Heartfelt greetings to all of us here today (Salam sejahtera bagi kita semuanya).May all of you be blessed (Om swastiastu).
Praise be to all enlightened beings (Namo buddhaya).
Greetings of virtue (Salam kebajikan).[The above are traditional Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, and Confucian greetings, frequently offered in the context of Indonesia’s multi-religious and pluralistic society].
We know that, at present, all is not well in the world. According to the Global Peace Index for 2023, conflict is on the rise across the globe. In 2008, 51 nations were involved in some form of external armed conflict, a figure that has since risen to 91. The number of yearly conflict-related deaths totals some 238,000 souls. The economic impact of conflict is enormous, with year-on-year losses rising 17 percent to reach 17.5 trillion dollars in 2022, which amounts to a staggering 13 percent of global GDP.
At the same time, societies across the world are becoming increasingly irreligious. The Ipsos Global Religion Survey for 2023 — which interviewed 19,731 people across 26 nations — found that 29 percent of respondents were either agnostic or atheist. [Editor’s note: 18 of the 26 countries surveyed by Ipsos are, in fact, Western nations — thereby skewing the survey’s results and, perhaps inadvertently, highlighting a significant divergence between the West, which is increasingly agnostic and/or atheist, and the rest of the world].
According to data collected by Pew Research Center, physical violence in the name of religion is increasing.
I am certain, ladies and gentlemen, that in light of these sobering facts you all share my commitment to transforming ASEAN into a model of unity, tolerance, and harmony. ASEAN must become the anchor for global stability and peace.
Honorable Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am certain that religious enthusiasm and piety across ASEAN are in fact on the rise. Indonesian society, for example, has the highest rate of religious belief in the world. According to Pew Research Center, 96 percent of respondents in Indonesia believe that good morals are determined by belief in God. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has collated evidence proving that Member States — among them Indonesia — have successfully maintained strong traditions of tolerance. Amidst tremendous religious and cultural diversity, Indonesia has succeeded in preserving harmony and managing ethnic, tribal, cultural, religious, and confessional differences.
Therefore, I am convinced that ASEAN is capable of becoming a catalyst for peace, a “caring and sharing community,” not merely an epicentrum of growth, but an epicentrum of harmony that maintains regional stability and promotes peace worldwide. In keeping with this vision, I warmly welcome the constructive role being played by religious and cultural leaders throughout ASEAN who are participating in the ASEAN Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue Conference 2023 — a strategic initiative of Nahdlatul Ulama and the Republic of Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
I hope that this forum will contribute to the broadening and deepening of mutual understanding and will become a solid foundation upon which ASEAN can rise as a global epicentrum of harmony and growth.
Thank you, and may the peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you.
Mbah Ponikem, a master batik craftswoman in Wukirsari village, Bantul, Yogyakarta. Photo credit: Aconkyeah
Indonesian Foreign Policy in Advancing Intercultural & Interreligious Dialogue
Remarks by H.E. Retno Marsudi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia
Delivered to inaugural ASEAN Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue Conference
Jakarta, 7 August 2023
Excellencies,
Distinguished participants,
I attended the Opening Ceremony this morning together with my President, so — once again — congratulations for the convening of ASEAN IIDC 2023. I like very much the theme of “Making ASEAN the Epicentrum of Harmony.”
I planned to attend this session in person. However, I’m so sorry for not being able to be with you, since I have to accompany my President to receive dignitaries from many countries today.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
One of the purposes of ASEAN is to ensure our peoples live in peace in a just, democratic, and, once again, harmonious environment.
In a region as diverse as Southeast Asia, dialogue is very important to bridge mutual understanding and promote mutual respect.
Indeed, the peace and stability that we enjoy in the region is the result of ASEAN’s years of hard work in promoting a culture of dialogue.
In today’s world — where geopolitical rivalry is pervasive, and a trust deficit prevents countries from cooperating — dialogue among nations is more important than ever.
This is why our foreign policy works hard to foster the habit of dialogue, building on Indonesia’s status as a country with the world’s largest Muslim population.
The objectives are three-fold. First, creating harmony among civilizations.
If not managed well, diversity only breeds suspicion and hatred. With a growing trend of Islamophobia globally, we may be heading towards a clash of civilizations.
There is a popular saying in Indonesia “tak kenal maka tak sayang” that means “you cannot love what you do not know”.
Indonesia includes interfaith dialogue as a permanent tool of its peace diplomacy to bridge a better understanding about Islam. We have interfaith dialogue with 34 countries worldwide from India to Ethiopia and the Holy See.
We also seek to show the world how diversity can be used to strengthen social cohesion. A few years back, we built schools, hospitals, and public markets in Rakhine State, Myanmar, to provide a space for coexistence between the country’s different ethnic and religious groups.
Second, projecting the image of Islam as rahmatan lil’ alamin.
Indonesia is a living example where Islam can be compatible with modernity and where Islam and tolerance reinforce each other. The key is moderation, and we are committed to inspiring other Muslim countries to also take a strong stance against radicalism. Islam must be a source of peace.
Our experience has enabled us to play a peacemaking role in the Southern Philippines and Southern Thailand, including through the involvement of our ulama.
Third, promoting women’s rights to education.
Colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, Indonesia is always promoting education for all, including women and girls. I’ll give you one example. Indonesia and Qatar hosted an International Conference last December in Bali to bolster international support for women’s education in Afghanistan.
We committed ourselves to providing scholarships for Afghan women and girls and exploring alternative education methods. We also invited Afghan ulama to visit Indonesia and see firsthand how we organize inclusive education in our Islamic schools.
Colleagues, peace is not a given, and it must never be taken for granted. All of us must actively maintain it by being agents of peace in our respective communities. Together, we can create a peaceful Southeast Asia, an epicentrum of tolerance and harmony.
I thank you very much.
Indonesians participate in a slametan (feast) ritual in Central Java. Photo credit: Giri Wijayanto