Indonesia Strengthens Global Role Through the 19th PUIC Conference: Encouraging Peace and Solidarity in the Islamic World
By: Laras Indah Sari
Indonesia has reaffirmed its position as a strategic diplomatic force in the Islamic world through the 19th Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC). The holding of this international forum is an important event for Indonesia to strengthen cooperation between Islamic countries, while also demonstrating active leadership at the global level in encouraging peace, sustainable development, and solidarity across regions.
As the host, Indonesia does not merely provide diplomatic space, but also offers unique values and approaches: inclusive democracy, a spirit of dialogue, and governance that upholds accountability. The Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, said that Indonesia’s presence amidst global dynamics is a form of commitment to continue encouraging a more open, progressive, and harmonious Islamic world. She emphasized that this meeting is an honor as well as an important momentum for Indonesia to take a more significant role in the international sphere.
Puan also emphasized that Indonesia’s position as the driving force of democratic parliamentary diplomacy in the Islamic world. He also said that through this forum, Indonesia hopes to be able to encourage the integration of the values of peace, development, and social justice in joint policies between OIC member countries.
In line with that, the Chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP) of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Mardani Ali Sera, said that the holding of the 19th PUIC Conference was part of an ongoing effort to strengthen Indonesian parliamentary diplomacy. For him, parliamentary diplomacy does not only act as a liaison between countries, but also as a moral and political force that is able to offer solutions to complex global challenges.
Mardani said that cooperation between Islamic countries in the current multipolar era needs to be directed towards creating a more just and peaceful world order. According to him, Indonesia is present not only as a facilitator, but also as an inspirator. Indonesia’s presence in the midst of the Islamic world parliamentary forum brings a new narrative: Islam as a blessing for the universe, which is able to adapt, build, and answer the challenges of the times.
Amidst global geopolitical tensions, environmental crises, and post-pandemic economic disruption, Mardani emphasized the importance of strengthening parliamentary institutions in Islamic countries. With strong, transparent, and accountable institutions, OIC countries can work together to bring stability and sustainable development. This is where Indonesia, said Mardani, takes a strategic role to encourage legislative governance reform and open up space for intercultural and international dialogue.
The 19th PUIC Conference is not only an elite discussion forum, but also a place for real collaboration. Several priority issues raised in this forum reflect the new direction of parliamentary cooperation between Islamic countries: strengthening economic, educational, socio-cultural cooperation, as well as the participation of women and the younger generation. These issues emphasize that the future of the Islamic world depends on the courage to carry out transformation, including opening up participatory space for all elements of society.
Mardani emphasized that Indonesia in this forum also promotes the importance of sustainable development, especially in the environmental, education, and digital innovation sectors. This is in line with the global agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is also a concern for OIC member countries. In this context, Indonesia appears as a country that is able to bridge national interests with the collective agenda of Muslims.
Among the main agendas of the conference, great attention was also paid to the issue of parliamentary transparency and accountability as the foundation of a healthy democracy. In Indonesia’s view, strengthening the parliament’s oversight function and public involvement in the legislative process are the keys to building public trust. Therefore, Indonesia encourages the exchange of good practices between OIC parliaments to improve the quality of legislative governance. Indonesia also introduced a new approach to parliamentary diplomacy that is oriented towards cross-sectoral and participatory cooperation. One of them is through strengthening the role of parliament in responding to contemporary issues, such as energy security, cybersecurity, and digital innovation in the Islamic world region. This approach also serves as a sign that Indonesia is ready to fill global leadership, not only at the regional level, but also in the scheme of strategic cooperation between Muslim countries.
