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3rd LD writethru: Asian-African ministerial meeting opens, Bandung Spirit highlighted

Xinhua, April 20, 2015 Adjust font size:

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 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 anniversary of the Asian-African Conference scheduled for April 24.

Marsudi, in her opening remarks at the ministerial meeting, said the Bandung Spirit conveyed both political and moral messages to the world. "However, is a mere political message enough to address today' s challenges?" said the minister, who called for effort to boost stronger political and economic cooperation.

She said 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 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 Asian-African cooperation, said the Indonesian foreign minister.

She said the event will enable Asia and Africa to enhance structural and systematic cooperation.

The first Asian-African Conference, also known as the Bandung Conference, was held in Indonesia in 1955, and leaders and representatives from 29 countries discussed major international issues.

The 1955 conference signaled the emergence of the developing countries as a rising force in the world arena, resulting in the Non-Aligned 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 in this year's summit and the commemoration activities. Endi