JAKARTA - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo stressed the importance of encouraging economic integration between Southeast Asia and Australia at the 2nd ASEAN-Australia Summit, held virtually on Saturday (14/11).
According to Mr Widodo, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), due to be signed on Sunday, 22 November 2020, will serve as a catalyst for economic recovery in Southeast Asia and Australia and even the world amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“I believe the RCEP will serve as a catalyst for economic recovery in the region and even the world,” Mr Widodo said at Bogor Palace as quoted from the Cabinet Secretariat’s website, Monday (16/11).
In addition, Mr Widodo also stated that ASEAN and Australia need to strengthen their commitment to increasing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand free trade agreement. The partnership, he added, needs to take place through increasing the traffic of goods, strengthening the global supply chain, developing collaboration in the field of digital economy, and improving the interaction between business actors in Australia and ASEAN. (MS)