Indonesia must win fight against virus: President

By Hayati Nupus

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AA) - Indonesia must win the fight against coronavirus and recover economically, said the president on Monday at a virtual commemoration ceremony of Pancasila, the country’s national principle.

"Being a winner in controlling the virus and economic recovery. As a great nation, we must also emerge victorious," said Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace in Bogor city of West Java province.

Widodo said COVID-19 is testing the nation's resilience and spirit, but they will come out stronger from this.

He noted that as the state’s cornerstone, Pancasila mobilizes national unity to overcome the challenges.

"It moves our sense of sharing, to strengthen our brotherhood and our cooperation to lighten the burden of the entire country, and to grow in the midst of struggles in overcoming every difficulty and challenge we face,” said the president.

The virtual ceremony was attended by Vice President Ma’ruf Amin and other officials from different places.

Like the rest of the world, Indonesia is combating the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

The country reported a total of 26,940 virus cases and 1,641 fatalities on Monday.

*Writing by Rhany Chairunissa Rufinaldo from Anadolu Agency's Indonesian language services in Jakarta.