JAKARTA,
April 20 (Xinhua) -- The Asian-African ministerial meeting opened here Monday
and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the Bandung Message, better
known as the Bandung Spirit, remains a commitment to the political solidarity
in the world.
Ministers
of Asian and African countries held a meeting here in preparation for the
Asian-African Summit 2015, which runs from April 22 to April 23 and the
Commemoration of the 60th Asian- African Conference scheduled for April 24.
Marsudi, in
her opening remarks at the ministerial meeting, said the Bandung Spirit
discusses both political and moral messages to the world. "However, is a
mere political message enough to address today' s challenges?"said the
minister, calling for boost for stronger political and economic cooperation.
She told
the opening ceremony that senior officials in their meeting on Sunday discussed
the implementation of the Bandung Message and other documents relating to the
New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP)
The NAASP was
launched at the previous event of the Asian- African Summit, which was held in
Indonesia in 2005.
This year's
event is featuring the theme of Reinvigorating of the NAASP.
The
upcoming summit and the commemoration are to "herald a new chapter"
for the Asian-African cooperation, said the Indonesian foreign minister.
She said
the event will enable Asia and Africa to enhance the structural and systematic
cooperation.
The first
Asian-African Conference, also known as the Bandung Conference, was held in Indonesia
in 1955, hosting delegations from 29 countries discussing major international
issues.
The 1955
conference signaled the emergence of the developing countries as a rising force
in the world arena, resulted in the nonaligned movement and the formation of
the Third World.
A
declaration was issued at the conference, containing 10 principles for handling
international relations which was termed as the Bandung Spirit.
The
Indonesian foreign ministry said 33 heads of state and government as well as
representatives from 77 countries have confirmed their participation at the
summit and the commemoration activities.
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