TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said in her opening speech at the 60th commemoration of the Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung, West Java, that the main challenges surrounding the Asian-African region had developed from colonialism and poverty in 1995 to a change in geopolitical landscape in 2015.
Among the challenges, Retno said, were that Palestine had continued to grapple with securing its right to sovereignty, and that one billion lives were presently living on less than US$2 a day. “Conflicts are continuing, intolerance still exists,” she said on Monday, April 12, 2015.
Retno said the Bandung Message highlighted three pillars of cooperation: political solidarity, economic stability, and social stability. “We do not want it to be a mere political message, but we want to implement the Bandung Message,” she said.
To realize the message, Retno said, Indonesia had established the South-South cooperation as a manifestation of solidarity among Asian-African countries. Retno mentioned that robust ties among developing partners were necessary to put the message into practice.
“Political message will assist us in addressing challenges faced by the region,” Retno added.
According to Retno, the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) will not only focus on eight areas of cooperation, but rather, it goes beyond such priorities. Retno also called on more intensified and structured cooperation among Asian-African countries to ensure its effective implementation.
“Growing together is a must. Let us use the AA as means to grow together,” she said.
NATALIA SANTIFERY ANDRIANSYAH