Bandung- Indonesian President Joko Widodo has urged Asian African countries to reinvigorate the spirit of the Ten Principle of Bandung, saying the current challenges facing the two continents still need the same solidarity and cooperation to be dealt with.
"Welcome to Bandung, the city where fire of the struggle against colonialism and injustice inflamed," the Indonesian President greeted the 22 heads of state and government that clocked the historical Merdeka Building in Bandung, Friday. This art deco building was the venue of the first AA Conference 0n 24 April 1955.
Presidend Widodo said that right inside the building, 60 years ago the great leaders Soekarno, Jawahral Nehru, Mohammad Ali Bogra, Sir John Kotelawa and U Nu, invigorated the spirit of solidarity of cooperation among peoples of Asia and Africa. Many countries had not yet became independent nations, many were still under colonialism.
He went on to say that the founding nations of Asian African Conference, Indonesia, Srilanka, Myanmar, Pakistan, had brought about inspirations for the peoples of Asia and Africa, which later on, gave them impetus for fight for their independence. "Those leaders provided of the ideals of independent life, just and prosperous. This inspired the birth of the Spirit of Bandung," he said.
From this town, the Indonesian President said, those spirit had inflamed the struggle for independence, the welfare, and justice for the nations of Asia and Africa. "These are the noble attitude of the statesmen of our predecessors.Their ideals was bigger than their era."
Sixty years ago, only three African countries attended the Asian-African Conference. In fact, Sudan came only with a white cloth bearing the name of country, "Sudan". She was not independent and had not have a flag yet.
Now the map of the world has changed. Asian-African Conference was attended by 91 countries,with the same spirit in different challenges. There is the passion for the prosperity of our people. "We realize that our goal should be achieved through cooperation, partnership should be aligned with other countries. Once again, working in parallel, with friends from other countries."
He also said that as a President who leads more than 250 million people, he realized that Indonesia had not been free from poverty. "We are still lagging behind compared to developed countries in other parts of the world. This problem is also faced by other countries in Asia and Africa."
Therefore, in commemoration of the Asian-Arika 60th I called on Asian African countries to reinvigorate the Bandung Spirit and continue the struggle of our leaders 60 years ago. "We need to increase mutual understanding, and bring peace to the world. All forms of violence must be stopped. The independence of Palestine should continue to be strived for."
President Joko Widodo also noted the need for cooperation between Asian African countries improve the welfare of our people through economic cooperation and trade. "We must work together so that our nation aligned with the developed nations in other parts of the world."
He expressed his hope the spirit of the Asian-African Conference would continue to strive together, and in each of the individual Asian African countries countries.
The AAC 2015 that began on 19 April 2015 and ended with the gathering of the leaders in the Merdeka Building in downtown Bandung, the capital city of West Java province, on Friday, 24 April 2015.
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