Jakarta. Indonesia says it will not let developing countries go unheard at the G7 Summit.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Friday morning departed from Jakarta to meet the leaders of top economies in Hiroshima. According to Jokowi, Indonesia will bring the voices of the Global South to this high-profile summit. 

“It is not just the developed and major economies who matter. Developing countries must be heard at the forum,” Jokowi told reporters shortly before his flight.

According to Jokowi, the G7 Summit will discuss issues related to climate change, food, and energy, among others. There will also be talks related to world peace. He added, “Hiroshima is a symbol of peace.”

The G7 encompasses Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the UK, the US, and host Japan. The European Union (EU) is a “non-enumerated member”.

Indonesia, which is this year’s rotating chair of ASEAN, is planning to inform the G7 of updates on the Southeast Asian bloc at the Hiroshima meeting.

“We will bring ASEAN’s voices to the G7. For instance, points related to Myanmar,” Jokowi said.

ASEAN recently wrapped up its 42nd Summit in the fishing town of Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara. The strife-torn Myanmar did not attend the forum as expected. The regional grouping also agreed that the five-point consensus —a peace plan that the group adopted in 2021— would remain ASEAN’s main reference in addressing the Myanmar crisis.