Indonesia vows to 'defend interests of Global South' at Africa forum

Jokowi aims for $3.5bn in business deals at 3-day gathering in Bali

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Indonesian President Joko Widodo speaks at the Indonesia-Africa Forum in Bali on Sept. 2. (Photo courtesy of Indonesia's foreign ministry)

NANA SHIBATA, Nikkei staff writer

BALI, Indonesia -- Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and leaders from African nations gathered on Bali to discuss issues ranging from trade, to supply chains, to health care, as the Southeast Asian nation moves to deepen ties with the Global South and play a bigger role in the international community.

"Indonesia is committed to being part of the global solution, defending the interests of the Global South," Jokowi said Monday at the three-day Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF), which began on Sunday. Citing geopolitical tensions and disrupted global supply chains, he warned, "International solidarity is actually declining, the spirit of multilateralism is increasingly being sidelined and fragmentation is widening."

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