Asia Africa : towards the first century

Half a century ago, the first generation of leaders of Asia and Africa met in the Asian-African Conference of 1955 in Bandung, Indonesia, and gave voice to the yearnings of their peoples for political freedom and for a more ethical order of international relations. Since then, the nations of these two great continents have contributed to a profound transformation of the international political landscape. Inspired by the Ten Principles of international relations known as the Dasa Sila Bandung, they have contributed to the emergence of many new independent nations in a successful struggle that brought an end to the era of colonialism.

They have formed a large part of the broad front that crushed and buried the policy of apartheid. And, in various ways, they have advanced the cause of disarmament and peace. Thus, when the present-day leaders of the two continents came together in Bandung in April 2005 in observance of the Golden Jubilee of the Asian-African Conference, there was much to celebrate.