Jakarta, Oct. 20 -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has praised Indonesia as a key pillar of multilateralism, citing its contributions to global development and UN peacekeeping operations worldwide.

"Indonesia is a pillar of multilateralism. It continues to shape international cooperation across the Asia-Pacific and the broader Global South," Guterres said Monday at the Foreign Policy Circle Talks in Jakarta.

He said Indonesia demonstrated diplomatic leadership a decade after independence by hosting the 1955 Asian-African Conference in Bandung, where newly independent nations championed non-alignment and self-determination.

"The Global South was born that day," he said.

Since then, Indonesia has played an active role...