President: RI to become prosperous 30 years ahead

In the next thirty years of this 21st century, Indonesia will be an advanced, dignified, and prosperous country, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said here on Friday.

The president made the statement in his state-of-the nation address on the occasion of the 64th anniversary of independence day before the House of Representatives plenary session.

"We should be able to create such Indonesia when we can reinforce the three pillars of our life as state comprising: Self-reliance, Competitiveness, and superior Civilization," the president said.

The first pillar, according to the president, was that the self-reliance should be maintained and consolidated as the "foundation of our strength, resilience, and competence to keep moving forward as a nation."

"We cannot be heavily dependent on other countries, let alone on the world. In the longer future, with our resources and cultural strength at our disposal, we want to be able to enhance continuously our self-reliance as a nation," the president said.

He said Indonesia should be able to become a nation which could meet most of its basic needs and not be ensnared with burdened debt.

"We want to be a nation which is not dictated, whether politically, economically or militarily by any country whatsoever," he said.

Commenting on the second pillar, the president said the country must must also have an increasingly high competitiveness.

"In this era of globalization full with competition and challenges, the winning and superior nation is productive and innovative, mastering science and technology, smart in seizing opportunities, and brave to address changes," he said.

And, the third pillar, according to the president, was that the country should be able to build and to have a matchless and noble civilization.

"This is the reason why we have to keep preserving the value, identity, and character of our nation, which are noble and honorable," the president said.

He said the spirit and work ethics as a powerful and persevering nation, and the civilization that produced national brotherhood and harmony should continue to be enhanced and developed.

"With these three pillars of life as a state ---self-reliance, competitiveness as well as superior and noble civilization---I am confident that Indonesia will be able to confront various challenges and ordeals, irrespective of its severity, form and origin. And when we can strengthen these three pillars, we will become an advanced and successful country in the present and subsequent centuries as well," said the head of state.