The Indonesian Student Association (PPI), an organization that links the nation’s students who are studying abroad, is expected to help strengthen people-to-people diplomacy in several nations.

The hope to build wider and better diplomacy was voiced by Indonesian Ambassador to Australia and Vanuatu Kristiarto S. Legowo during the  inauguration of the World PPI for 2021-2022, which coincided with Youth Pledge Day on October 28, 2021 .

“Reinforcing the mission of people-to-people diplomacy is also a contribution to the country because good relations between the two countries depend not only on intergovernmental connections but also on both people,” Ambassador Legowo noted in his statement received here on Thursday.

According to Legowo, Indonesian students, who are studying abroad, are an important asset in developing Indonesia’s relations with partner countries.

The ambassador noted that relationships between communities also play an important role in manifesting a great bond along with the government and business institutions through diplomacy.

As students, who study abroad, get the best opportunity to pursue education, they are expected to contribute to the nation, he affirmed.

He also invited PPI leaders across the world to emulate the youth’s struggle in the past in uniting the homeland and language in Indonesia.

“We remember that in the early 1900s, the youth and students fought, as the tribes in the archipelago, from Sabang to Merauke, were keen to unite and bind themselves in one battle, to pledge themselves as one nation, and to uphold one language (Indonesian),” he expounded.

He pointed out that owing to the youth’s struggle and spirit at that time, Indonesia was able to free itself from the colonizers, and thus, the fruits of that fight can be enjoyed at present.

Furthermore, Legowo is optimistic that Indonesian youth would reflect the same values by pushing the progress of the nation apart from their learning activities.

Source: Antara News