Interview: Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, Bandung Spirit will shine forever

The essence of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, advocated by China, Myanmar and India, are among the principles accepted by the Asian-African Conference (Bandung Conference), and the Bandung Spirit still possesses a guiding significance now, says daughter of former Myanmar Prime Minister U Nu.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua ahead of the upcoming 60th anniversary of the Bandung Conference, Daw Than Than Nu recalled her visit to China last year to join a gathering marking of the 60th anniversary of the introduction of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, as being unforgettable.

She said it was in 1954 when China's then Premier Zhou Enlai, Indian Prime Minister Nehru and her father U Nu, jointly advocated the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in accordance with the then international situation.

These principles were later accepted by the Bandung Conference and developed into an international norm to govern international relations.

History manifested, she said, that Premier Zhou Enlai, Prime Minister U Nu and Prime Minister Nehru were not only notable figures as advocates of the five principles but also great representatives responsible for working hard to ensure the Bandung Conference was a success.

She explained that the Bandung Conference was, historically, held at a time when some Southeast Asian and African countries had not still won independence yet.

She recalled when Myanmar regained independence in 1948 and the People's Republic of China announced its founding in 1949, Asian and African countries had come to know that only through unity, could they prevent the outbreak of the third world war.

The three prime ministers, after jointly advocating the five principles in 1954, also jointly tried to introduce these principles at the Bandung Conference in 1955, which was accepted by the Afro-Asian nations. Under the basis of these principles, the Bandung Conference produced the Bandung Spirit, followed by the emergence of the Non-Alliance Movement.

All these had played a positive role in pushing international situation to develop in a positive direction, she said.

She pointed out that the successful convening of the Bandung Conference produced a positive outcome, which was unity under common grounds.

Viewed from the world today, she said if Asian countries unite, there could not be a repeat of history of being oppressed by bigger powers.

She stressed the need to enhance unity and cooperation, which are beneficial to all nations.

She urged the young people to try to edify themselves about the Bandung Spirit of unity and cooperation to promote Asian countries to become an important force in the globe to safeguard world peace.

Citing more commemorations of historic events this year, such as the 70th anniversary of the victory of WWII, she pointed out that such events are to tell the younger generation about the past and to not repeat the tragic history by safeguarding peace through unity and cooperation.

For world peace and human development, she trumpeted the virtues of further development of the five principles and the Bandung Spirit, adding that history has witnessed the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and Bandung Spirit become a vigorous ideology that will shine into the future. Endi