Indonesian president: Look beyond crisis, restore confidence

Source: Xinhua | 10-24-2008 08:46

By Yangtze Yan

BEIJING, Oct. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono hoped here Thursday the Asia-Europe community to restore confidence and stability against the current global financial crisis.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono delivers a  keynote speech at the conclusion session of the 11th  Asia-Europe Business Forum (AEBF11) in China World Hotel,  Beijing, on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008.(Xinhuanet/Yangtze Yan)

"We should look beyond the crisis, change the financial sector, not let the crisis of financial market turn to the crisis of economic confidence," the visiting president said to hundreds of business executives while addressing the conclusion session of the 11th Asia-Europe Business Forum (AEBF11) held from Oct. 21 to 23.

Yudhoyono called on closer cooperation among all the countries to jointly tackle the crisis, and also invited more investment to Indonesia in various business opportunities.

Earlier, dozens of business leaders and government officials have delivered their opinions on financial security, energy cooperation, closer Asia-Europe business collaboration and on how to keep sustainable development of the region.

"Nobody is insulated from the global financial crisis," said Dr. Jacques Gravereau, the President of HEC Eurasia Institute from Paris, before laying out some recommendations for more cooperation.

Gravereau picked out the Chinese word "Wei Ji", meaning "crisis" as a phrase but "danger" and "opportunity" individually, to say the opportunity will come along with the crisis.