According to Foreign Minister RetnoMarsudi of the host country Indonesia, the Asian and African FMs werefully aware of the importance of peace and stability as well as thenecessity to step up the fight against trans-national crime, includingterrorism and drug trade.
The first Asian-African Conference washeld in Bandung city, Indonesia from April 18-24, 1955 where leadersfrom 29 Asian and African countries issued the 10-point BandungDeclaration that laid a solid foundation for relationship among nationsfrom the two continents, including respect to national sovereignty andinternational law, peaceful settlement of disputes, and promotion ofcooperation, among others.
The event created a drivingforce for many colonised countries in the two continents to fight fortheir independence. It also laid the foundation for the establishment ofother frameworks and groups, including the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM),Group 77 and the South-South Cooperation Agreement.
Themed “Strengthening South-South Cooperation to Promote World Peaceand Prosperity”, this year’s event expects to adopt three documents,namely the Bandung Message 2015, the Declaration to reactivate the NewAsia-Africa Strategic Partnership and the Palestine Declaration.-VNA