Jakarta Globe, Basten Gokkon, Apr 23, 2015
 |
An estimated 20,000 students played the angklung, a bamboo instrument,
setting a world record to celebrate the Asian-African Conference, at Bandung’s
Siliwangi Stadium on Thursday. (Antara Photo/Sigid Kurniawan) |
Jakarta.
President Joko Widodo on Thursday closed the Jakarta leg of meetings of the
Asian-African Conference as delegates head to Bandung for the closing ceremony
on Friday.
At least 90
countries from the two continents have worked together to formulate three
important documents: the Bandung Message; the Declaration on Reinvigorating the
New Asian-African Strategic Partnership; and the Declaration on Palestine.
On
Thursday, Joko officially authorized the documents as the outcome of the 60th
commemoration of the high-level conference.
“I believe
that the concepts that have been produced will reflect the Bandung Spirit and
the interests of every country,” he said.
“I,
therefore, would like to express my appreciation for the enthusiasm and the
commitment of your majesties and excellencies, and of all parties involved in
the formulation of the outcome documents and in the convening of this summit,”
Joko said before the delegates at the Jakarta Convention Center.
He urged
the world to listen to the voices and decisions made during the conference,
saying the summit was one of the largest intergovernmental forums outside the
framework of the United Nations, in which Asian and African countries, as well
as a number of international observers, take part.
“The voices
in the summit represent the voices of Asia and Africa,” Joko said.
He added
that participating countries had also agreed to reinvigorate the core ideas of
the South-South movement, namely prosperity, solidarity and stability of Asian
and African nations.
“We have
agreed to establish a network of peace-keeping centers in the two regions, to
facilitate capacity-building cooperation,” Joko said.
The
conference condemned acts of extremism and terrorism in the name of religion
and resolved to promote dialogue between cultures and faiths, he said. The
summit also agreed to foster trade and investment as the engine of growth.
“In this
regard, we will pursue a fair, multilateral trading system, which is pro-growth
and inclusive; which would contribute to growth, investment and job
opportunities; and which promotes sustainable development,” Joko said.
He
highlighted the Asian and African countries’ recognition of the centrality of
the maritime sector as well as the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean in
bridging the economic development of the two continents.
“In this
regard, maritime cooperation will become one of the pillars of the New
Asian-African Strategic Partnership,” the president said.
“I will
work hard with all of you to ensure the materialization of the strategic
partnership. I will also strive, with your support, for the prosperity, equality
and stability of all Asian and African countries,” he said, ending his remarks.
Zimbabwe’s
President Robert Mugabe, co-chair of the day’s forum, said the three documents
captured the ideas and visions of where Asian and African nations would lead in
the future through the Bandung Spirit.
“This was a
very successful meeting … There is no doubt therefore that this summit will be
historic,” he said.
Joko also
announced several other outcomes from the conference.
“I’m very
glad to announce that we’ve established April 24 as Asia-Africa Day; reinforced
Bandung as the city of Asian-African solidarity; and more importantly, the
opening of the Asia Africa Center in Indonesia,” Joko told reporters.
Indonesian
Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi said her office, which organized the
conference, had not yet decided where the center would be located.
She said
the countries would have another meeting to plan the venture.
“What we
have prepared are the programs that will be run under the Asia Africa Center and
also the modalities,” Retno said.
The United
States, which attended the conference as an observer, praised Indonesia, saying
it had long been a champion for peace and cooperation on the international
stage.
“Very
notably, however, over the past 17 years Indonesia also has become a model of
democratic transformation, religious pluralism and tolerance, and economic
development,” said Robert O. Blake, Jr., the US ambassador to Indonesia, who
led his country’s delegation at the conference.
“It is now
home to the world’s largest democracy after India and the United States,” he
added.
He said
that as a fellow democracy, the United States shared Indonesia’s respect for
fundamental human rights — the first of 10 principles extolled by the original
Bandung Conference in 1955.
“It is our
hope that the countries attending this conference in 2015 will leave Bandung
inspired by Indonesia’s commitment to a political system based on the consent
of the governed, rule of law, and respect for human rights,” Blake said.
“Countries whose policies respect and reflect these rights are far more likely
to be more peaceful and more prosperous.”
The United
States, the ambassador said, was fully committed to partnering with countries
in Asia and Africa to advance cooperation and address shared challenges
together.
The United
States has been increasingly involved in Asia and the Pacific.
US
President Barack Obama’s strategic decision to rebalance US efforts and
resources toward the Asia-Pacific region is an example of how vital the region
is to Washington’s interests.
Many,
however, see the renewed US engagement in Asia as an attempt to
counterbalance China’s growing clout in
the region.
“Our
expanding engagement with Asia is about sustaining progress and stability in a
region relatively free of conflict — a region where democracy increasingly has
taken hold,” Blake said.
“Our
rebalance provides for a win-win scenario in which every country in the region,
including China, contributes to the continuation of decades of peace and
stability.”
He added
that beyond Bandung, challenges remained, including combating climate change,
stopping the spread of infectious diseases, strengthening good governance, and
countering violent ideologies and terrorism.
“The United
States looks forward to cooperating with Indonesia and other countries
represented at this conference to overcome these challenges,” Blake said.
