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Public Lecture for the 79th Anniversary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at USU: Reflecting on a Decade of Indonesia's Diplomacy

Published At

21 August 2024

Published By

Sulisintia Harahap

Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, held a public lecture on Indonesia's foreign policy titled "10 Years of Indonesia's Diplomatic Journey" to commemorate the 79th Anniversary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Tuesday (August 20, 2024). The event, held in the Senate Hall on the 3rd Floor of the USU Rectorate Building, featured two keynote speakers: Dr. Hatta Ridho, S.Sos, MSP, Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at USU, and Diana E. S. Sutikno, Senior Diplomat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This public lecture was conducted simultaneously across campuses in all 38 provinces of Indonesia and was opened by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno L. P. Marsudi, via Zoom Meeting. Following Minister Retno's opening remarks, the proceedings were handed over to the respective institutions, including USU.  
 

USU Vice Rector III, Prof. Dr. Apt. Poppy Anjelisa Zaitun Hasibuan, M.Si., delivered welcoming remarks during the event. She expressed her appreciation for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs initiative to organize this public lecture, which provided valuable insights into Indonesia's foreign policy for USU students and the academic community. "We hope that through this lecture, USU students will gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics of Indonesia's diplomacy and its strategic role on the global stage," said Prof. Poppy.  

 

In his presentation, Dr. Hatta Ridho delved into Indonesia's foreign policy developments over the past decade. He highlighted how Indonesia has made significant strides, particularly in its role on the global stage. "Indonesia has maintained a free and active foreign policy, enabling the nation to remain independent without aligning with global powers while actively contributing to the peaceful resolution of international issues," said Dr. Hatta.  

 

Dr. Hatta also elaborated that during President Joko Widodo's administration, Indonesia's foreign policy has focused more on trade and investment to drive domestic economic growth. "This policy prioritizes national interests in every foreign engagement, which has significantly supported the nation's development," he added.  

 

Meanwhile, Diana E. S. Sutikno emphasized Indonesia's foreign policy priorities, which are oriented towards tangible benefits. She outlined four main priorities: strategic independence, economic diplomacy, regional leadership in Southeast Asia, and protecting Indonesian citizens abroad. "Strengthening diplomatic infrastructure is crucial to achieving these goals. We must ensure that Indonesia's diplomacy delivers concrete benefits to the people," Diana stated.  

 

Diana highlighted Indonesia's pivotal role in Southeast Asia through its ASEAN-centric approach. "Indonesia positions ASEAN as the core of its foreign policy, reflected in various initiatives and collaborations at the regional level," she said. This includes signing numerous free trade agreements to enhance the competitiveness of Indonesian products in the global market.  

 

The public lecture concluded with a Q&A session, where participants actively engaged with the speakers on current issues related to Indonesia's foreign policy, particularly regarding the Ministry's strategic role and solutions in addressing the Palestine-Israel conflict. The event aimed to strengthen the understanding and awareness of USU students and academics about the strategic role of Indonesia's diplomacy on the international stage.
 

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