By Riyaz ul Khaliq
ISTANBUL (AA) – Indonesia on Wednesday hosted the first high-level meeting of the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum to boost cooperation on existing challenges.
Dubbing the forum as the “voice” of island nations, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said: “Various collaborations from forum provide concrete benefits to coastal communities, ranging from education, research, digitalization, to strategic benefits in environmental conservation.”
The Indonesian president, popular as “Jokowi,” addressed the first high-level meeting of the AIS Forum in the Bali region of the Southeast Asian nation.
Hosting the AIS Forum “is one of Indonesia's commitments to work together at a higher level to take concrete steps in dealing with regional and world issues,” Jokowi, who chaired the meeting, said on X.
According to Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, around 30 nations and three international organizations are participating in the high-level meeting.
“Collaboration and unity of archipelagic countries and island states is urgently needed to be able to grow together and overcome the various existing challenges,” he said, expressing Indonesia’s support to the forum.
The AIS brings together 51 archipelagic and island nations to take part in a collective forum addressing challenges of ocean resource usage for sustainable economic growth, climate change resiliency, ocean pollution, emergency management, and the enhancement of sustainable fisheries.