In challenging times, SE Asia steps forward

Strengthening position

Ang Siah Hwee, director of the Wellington-based Southeast Asia Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence, said the hosting of these meetings has "strengthened the position of ASEAN in the Asia-Pacific rim and the world".

Ang said the rules-based World Trade Organization "has been given reassurance" in the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. He said APEC "also seeks further conversations around the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, or FTAAP, agenda". Ang said the issue has been "on-and-off APEC's radar" for decades.

Ang said there was also "a sense of urgency" in strengthening the competitiveness of the services sector, especially travel, transport, and other services that have been hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. Digital technology and innovation will also play a bigger role in advancing inclusive and sustainable growth.

APEC leaders said they are determined to further strengthen the rules-based multilateral trading system. They welcomed progress this year in advancing the FTAAP and will continue to build on this momentum toward high-quality and comprehensive regional undertakings through the FTAAP Agenda Work Plan.

"APEC's cooperation will contribute to practical solutions for common challenges and complement global efforts including the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," the APEC economic leaders said in a declaration issued at the end of the meeting.

Thong Mengdavid, a research fellow at the Phnom Penh-based Asian Vision Institute, said the three meetings enabled "constructive dialogue in which the world leaders discussed policy coordination to achieve global economic sustainability and inclusive growth".

With regard to the ASEAN Summit, Thong Mengdavid described it as "very successful, productive and constructive".

Ah Maftuchan, sherpa of Civil 20 Indonesia, or C20, said Indonesia's G20 presidency has extended "the space, freedom and recognition" to all engagement groups of the G20. These include the C20, which serves as a platform for civil society organizations. He said the presence of the C20 is "real evidence" that G20 Indonesia was "inclusive and showed respect for all development actors".

Maftuchan said one of the legacies of Indonesia's G20 role is its showcasing of the nation's ability to lead a multilateral forum and promote multilateralism amid global challenges. Maftuchan spoke of the importance of the G20 Bali Leaders' Declaration at the conclusion of the summit. He said the final communique shows that Southeast Asia's biggest economy can lead the G20 as a forum that can offer solutions to global challenges. This has earned Indonesia respect from the global community.

In the declaration, the G20 leaders said the global economy is at its "critical moment", making it essential for the group to undertake "tangible, precise, swift and necessary actions, using all available policy tools, to address common challenges, including through international macro policy cooperation and concrete collaborations". The leaders said they will take coordinated actions to advance an agenda for a strong, inclusive and resilient global recovery and sustainable development that delivers jobs and growth. They have also committed to maintaining long-term fiscal sustainability, promoting food and energy security and extending temporary and targeted support to cushion the impact of price increases.