Asian, African leaders call for closer economic interactions

Asian and African leaders urged countries of the two continents to have closer economic interactions through means like more regional and bilateral trade agreements.

In their Bandung Message adopted here Thursday at the closing ceremony of the Asian-African Summit, the leaders underscored the significance of regional and bilateral trade agreements, which could ultimately strengthen and compliment the multilateral trading system and is beneficial to all, in particular developing and least developed countries.

The leaders noted in the document that the continuing global financial and economic crises have caused a decline in trade and investment growth, which has had a severe impact on many developing countries.

To achieve economic development, the leaders emphasized the importance of reliable and sustainable infrastructure programs in every stage of national development, particularly in developing countries.

According to the Bandung Message, the leaders "recognize that expanding access to modern, efficient and affordable energy services is an enormous challenge for the Asian and African regions. Countries need to strengthen cooperation among relevant stakeholders in the two regions on more accessible, affordable and sustainable sources of energy to meet their developmental needs".

The two-day summit, under the theme "Strengthening South-South Cooperation to Promote World Peace and Prosperity," concluded here Thursday with the adoption of three documents: the Bandung Message, the Declaration on Re-invigorating the New Asian African Strategic Partnership and the Declaration on Palestine. Endi