Prabowo at EEF Russia: ASEAN Chooses Consultation over Confrontation

President Prabowo Subianto stated that the Southeast Asian region is not always in a state of peace. According to him, ASEAN has previously faced conflicts, tensions, and profound differences between nations.

“Southeast Asia is not always peaceful. Our region has experienced conflict, tension, and deep differences,” Prabowo said during his speech at the 11th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok, Russia, as seen on the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel on Thursday (3/9/2024).

Prabowo noted that ASEAN leaders eventually realised there were larger issues than the individual problems of each nation, specifically issues such as poverty and limited access to healthcare and education.

“However, our leaders then realised that poverty, limited healthcare and education services, inadequate infrastructure, and the need to create opportunities are greater challenges than our individual respective challenges,” he said.

Prabowo stated that this is why ASEAN countries have chosen to address these various issues through cooperation. According to him, this choice over nearly six decades has yielded benefits for regional peace.

“Therefore, ASEAN chooses consultation over confrontation, and cooperation over division. For almost six decades, that choice has produced a peace dividend. Farmers can produce, factories can operate, ships can sail, businesses can invest, children can attend school, and families can plan for the future,” he remarked.

Prabowo subsequently invited Russia and the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) to help expand the benefits of this peace through closer ties with Southeast Asia.

“Indonesia now invites Russia and every member of the EAEU to help expand this peace dividend by connecting Eurasia more closely with Southeast Asia,” he concluded.