(Jakarta) – The 7th annual Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) concluded in Bali, with several participating countries calling for its continuation in the years to come. Speaking at the closing ceremony, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dino Patti Djalal, said many participants of the BDF expressed hope that the forum is continued during the term of the incoming government under the leadership of President-elect Joko Widodo and Vice President-elect, Jusuf Kalla.
“Nearly all participating countries called for the forum to be continued because they believe it helps them learn new things from the way democracy functions in other countries. This is the strength of the BDF,” Djalal stated. As countries share information on the development of democracy in their nations, participating countries learn a lot and benefit from the forum, the deputy minister noted.
“Several decades ago, we assumed that democracy and economics could not be developed hand in hand. But today, all participants agree that politics and economics can be developed simultaneously in different ways,” he stated.
The deputy minister further added that the participating countries were free to incorporate recommendations from the 7th BDF to their countries political systems.
(Courtesy WAM)
