Asean leaders meet amid warnings of food, water, fuel scarcity

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Saturday warned of global competition for food and energy resources in the coming years as the world population grows from seven billion to nine billion by 2045.

Yudyohono said it was important for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to come up with programs to ensure food security for the people in the region and to produce innovative solutions to the need for new and renewable sources of energy.

The Indonesian leader made the remarks during the opening of the Asean Summit in this city.

“The competition for energy, for food, and for clean water will become part of the global competition,” Yudyohono said in his welcome remarks before the nine other leaders, including President Benigno Aquino III, from Asean-member countries.

Yudhoyono said that the world population was expected to grow fast and nations “will face a competitive situation for the scarce resources of daily needs.”

He said the Asean countries were experiencing food and energy fluctuations and rising global costs.

“Food security will be a great challenge for Asean. For that reason, we will need clear and evident cooperation amongst Asean, with a clear emphasis on programs on securing food supply for the people,” Yudhoyono said.

Yudhoyono suggested the formation of an Asean Integrated Food Security Framework that will come up with comprehensive research and generate investments in food security.

“More specifically, we must attend to the formulation of a food reserves system in Asean and also one that assists farmers from escaping poverty,” Yudhoyono said.

On energy generation, Yudhoyono said the application of renewable energy and the implementation of the program of Asean Energy Efficiency and Conservation, should promote the economic and social development in countries in Asean.

“Asean needs to strengthen cooperation on renewable energy sources and alternative energy, including hydropower and geothermal,” Yudhoyono said.

He said there was a need to give serious attention and take concrete measures to address soaring food energy prices.

“History shows that the rise of food and energy prices usually cause the increase in the number of people living in poverty. Yet, we know very well that decreasing the poverty level is not an easy task,” Yudhoyono said.

Yudhoyono welcomed heads of government or state of the Asean-member countries at the Jakarta Convention Center on Saturday morning.

Aside from President Aquino and Yudhoyono, those in attendance were Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein, Senior Minister of Singapore S. Jayakumar representing Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

The leaders then went to the Assembly Hall for a series of meetings.