REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia is ready to act as a bridge to connect Asia and Africa in the framework of economic, cultural, and political cooperation, according to President Joko Widodo, better known as Jokowi.

"Indonesia will serve as a maritime bridge to connect the Asian and African continents," President Jokowi stated in his opening address at the Asian-African Summit held at the Jakarta Convention Center here on Wednesday (22/4).

With regard to the maritime axis concept that has become one of the key focus areas of his administration; the president believes that it can also provide benefits to the pattern of cooperation among Asian-African countries.

"Today, Indonesia is ready to cooperate with all parties to realize this goal, and tomorrow, we will gather in Jakarta to meet the challenge. Today and tomorrow, the world awaits us to bring the Asian-African nations at par with other countries," he affirmed.

Jokowi pointed out that welfare, solidarity, and stability are necessary for developing cooperation between Asian-African nations.

"We can do all that to improve our welfare, with strong cooperation to eradicate poverty, develop science, and increase employment," Jokowi affirmed.

The president also stressed on the importance of strengthening solidarity through economic cooperation and the development of infrastructure.

In this position, President Jokowi remarked that Indonesia is ready to function as a bridge to connect the continents of Asia and Africa.

"In our efforts to maintain internal and external stability, we have to work together to address radicalism, to combat the abuse of drugs, and to encourage the peaceful resolution of conflicts," he noted.

Jokowi further added that Indonesia will initiate a meeting of Muslim countries to ensure internal stability of each country that can make a positive contribution to regional and global stability in general.

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