Addressing the UN General Assembly, Jokowi pointed to the fact that some countries simply have it better than others when it comes to the pandemic response, even though the adage that “no one is safe until everyone is safe” continues to ring true.

He called for the establishment of standardized global health protocols in cross-border activities, such as vaccine criteria, test results and other medical matters, as concrete steps toward ensuring that no one country is left behind.

“The capacity and pace among countries in tackling COVID-19, including in vaccinations, differ widely. Politicization and discrimination against vaccines continue to take place,” he said in a prerecorded video message.

“New mechanisms are required to mobilize global health resources, which include financing, vaccines, medicines and medical equipment, as well as healthcare workers worldwide, quickly and fairly.”

Indonesia has moved from being a laggard in its pandemic response, at one point this year even becoming the epicenter in Asia, to showing rapid signs of recovery that have spurred talks of easing curbs and the reopening of borders.

The country recently saw its lowest reproduction rate since the pandemic started, resulting in a significant decline in daily new virus infections by more than 90 percent. The reproduction rate measures the number of people who become infected from each positive case.

Even with just 47 million people fully vaccinated, about a quarter of the targeted population, Indonesia still saw its national hospital bed occupancy rate dip below 10 percent and a positivity rate – the proportion of people tested who come back positive – of less than 5 percent.

However, it has also, like other developing countries, continued to feel the adverse effects of policies put in place by more advanced nations, whether in relation to vaccine accessibility or in limiting the cross-border mobility needed to turn the wheels of its economy.

Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi previously called on her counterparts to reconsider their policies on foreign arrivals and vaccine requirements to enter their territories.

She also raised Indonesia’s concerns on vaccine discrimination at the 20th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Program of Action, which aims to increase efforts to combat racism, discrimination and intolerance.

“We need to achieve equality and nondiscrimination for vaccines to address gaps in COVID-19 recovery. All countries need to show solidarity and avoid politicizing the pandemic,” Retno said in a statement disseminated early on Thursday. “International cooperation is needed to ensure accurate information and prevent misinformation.”

Burden sharing

Wednesday’s address, which was broadcast before dawn on Thursday in Indonesia, was the second time Jokowi addressed the UNGA in his seven years in office. Minister Retno introduced the President’s speech as she took part in the annual multilateral diplomatic event in person.

Jokowi spent the last third of his seven-minute speech talking about Indonesia’s plans as it prepares to assume the presidency of the Group of 20 (G20) countries, a club of the world’s biggest economies, later this year. Continuing on the nation’s theme, he also preached about prioritizing inclusiveness in the upcoming G20 calendar of activities and the importance of multilateralism.

“Indonesia is striving for the G20 to work for the benefit of all, developed and developing countries, North and South, big and small, archipelagic countries and small island states in the Pacific, as well as vulnerable groups that must be prioritized,” the President said.

On the climate crisis, he said he was aware of Indonesia’s strategic role in the global response to climate change, highlighting a decrease in forest fires by 82 percent last year and the lowest deforestation rate in two decades.

However, he also underlined the importance of “burden sharing” instead of “burden shifting” in the global response – pointing to the need for richer countries to fund the climate response of developing countries.

“Indonesia’s commitment to climate resilience, low carbon development and green technology is firm and clear. However, the energy and technology transformation process must facilitate the participation of developing countries in the development of industries and become technology producers,” the President said.

Indonesia has been vocal in inviting richer countries to fund its carbon emission-reduction projects, including in the United States-led Leader’s Summit on Climate in April. The government also recently axed a deforestation pact with Norway over unadministered funding.

President Jokowi also talked briefly about geopolitics in his speech, highlighting the situations in Afghanistan, Myanmar and Palestine.

“We must be stern in fighting intolerance, conflict, terrorism and war. Peace in diversity and the protection of women’s and minority rights must be upheld,” he said.

During the busiest week of the year on the UN circuit, Jokowi also participated virtually from Jakarta in the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate Change, as well as the UN-led Global COVID-19 Summit.

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