'Partnership leads Asia-Africa to true destiny'<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono officially opened the Asian-
\nAfrican Summit 2005 on Friday, marking the 50th anniversary of
\nthe 1955 Asia-Africa Conference. The following is his opening
\naddress.<\/p>\n
At long last, at long last, we are all gathered here. It took
\nfifty long years for this conference to happen, but Asia and
\nAfrica have finally assembled here again.<\/p>\n
Today, the sons and daughters of Asia and Africa stand
\ntogether, in this Hall as equals. And we stand tall, proud and
\nfree.<\/p>\n
Let us therefore begin by giving a big applause, to honor the
\nfirst generation of Asian and African leaders, who started it all
\nin Bandung in 1955.<\/p>\n
What they did was truly remarkable. At a volatile time when
\nthe new world was searching for order, they awakened the
\ncollective spirit of Asia and Africa, they set forth a new
\ncourse, and they ignited a new sense of solidarity and activism,
\nthat transformed our two great continents.<\/p>\n
In short, what they did was no less than to change the world,
\nand shaped the second half of the 20th century.<\/p>\n
Alhamdulillah (Thank God), the gathering which in 1955 began
\nwith 29 countries -- 3 from Africa, 26 from Asia and the Middle-
\nEast -- now have grown into a large conference of 106 independent
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
But we do not come here to reminisce, nor to bask in self-
\nromanticization. Nor are we here to exchange pleasantries, or to
\nlament our problems.<\/p>\n
We come here, because we need to ask hard questions and find
\nreal answers, about how Asia and Africa can adapt and respond to
\nthe challenges of today's world.<\/p>\n
We must ask : Why did it take 50 years "a lifetime" for Asia
\nand Africa to reconvene, after the success of the first Summit
\nin 1955?<\/p>\n
We must ask: Does the Bandung Spirit mean the same in 2005 as
\nit did in 1955? If the Bandung spirit has served us well over
\nthe years, how can we adapt that spirit to today's circumstances?<\/p>\n
And we must ask: now that Asia-Africa is reconvened in great
\nnumbers and with robust confidence, how can we make it relevant
\n-- relevant to us, and relevant to the world?<\/p>\n
The sad fact of history is that, while the Bandung Spirit
\nlived on after 1955, the Asia-Africa process stumbled. The last
\ntime we heard of the "Asia-Africa" conference was in 1965, when
\nthe attempt to reconvene the second Asian African Summit in
\nAlgiers faltered.<\/p>\n
What we need to remember here is that "Asia-Africa" faltered
\nnot for lack of spirit, but for lack of process, for lack of
\nplanning, and perhaps --perhaps -- for lack of prudence.<\/p>\n
But for those who question whether the Bandung Spirit is still
\nrelevant, I would say that the case for Asia-Africa solidarity
\ntoday is, even more compelling than it was 50 years ago.<\/p>\n
Let us not forget: as we entered the new millennium, Asia-
\nAfrica remains the missing link, in the worldwide structure of
\ninter-regional relations.<\/p>\n
Across the Atlantic Ocean, there is the formal alliance
\nbetween Europe and North America.<\/p>\n
Across the Pacific Ocean, there is the formal linkage between
\nAsia and the Americas, through APEC and the ASEAN Regional Forum.<\/p>\n
But across the Indian Ocean, none exists between Asia and
\nAfrica, despite the success story of the first Asia-Africa Summit
\nin 1955.<\/p>\n
Our meeting here today is therefore, an inauguration of that
\nnew bridge across the Indian Ocean, that new bridge between the
\nwonderful worlds of Asia and Africa.<\/p>\n
Indeed, the international environment today is much more
\nconducive, for the coming together of Asia and Africa.<\/p>\n
Asia and Africa are no longer burdened by the Cold War, which
\nin 1955 pulled the Asian and African participants in Bandung in
\ndifferent directions.<\/p>\n
Asia and Africa are now much more accustomed and open to each
\nother, we have developed better skills of cooperation and
\ninteractions, and we are much more integrated into the world
\neconomy than 50 years ago. And of course, television, radio,
\ninternet, fast airplanes, trade, sports and tourism have brought
\nour peoples closer.<\/p>\n
Asia and Africa are also now home to important regional and
\nsub-regional organizations, as well as to the proliferation of
\nbilateral and multilateral ties.<\/p>\n
And beyond Asia-Africa, in contrast with 1955, we now see a
\nworld much more sympathetic to our problems, and eager to work
\nand engage us.<\/p>\n
Which is why in today's international context, the real
\nchallenge of Asia-Africa is not about developing the power to
\nconfront, but the power to connect.<\/p>\n
Asia-Africa must connect with itself, but it must also connect
\nwith other international and regional groupings.<\/p>\n
Thus, we can do much more with Asia-Africa in 2005 compared to
\n1955.<\/p>\n
Just think about it: 106 countries now grace the continents of
\nAsia and Africa, comprising more than one-half of the membership
\nof the United Nations, encompassing an area that is almost half
\nof the world. We speak for 4.6 billion people, or 73 percent of
\nthe world's population. Our combined Gross Domestic Product
\namounts to $9.3 trillion.<\/p>\n
But being too impressed with demographics or economic
\nstatistics, will not get us very far.<\/p>\n
The renewed Asia-Africa process that we are trying to nurture,
\nwill matter only if we can make it relevant to the problems and
\nopportunities of Asia-Africa.<\/p>\n
And the problems of Asia and Africa are plenty.<\/p>\n
But the most persistent among them is the enduring fight
\nagainst poverty.<\/p>\n
Africa is the only continent where poverty is on the rise,
\nwhere 40 percent of all Sub-Saharan people live on less than a
\ndollar a day. Asia also has vast pockets of poverty, where
\npeople living in extreme poverty, outnumber those in Africa by
\nseveral hundred millions.<\/p>\n
And of course, Asia and Africa's problems do not stop there.
\n25 million Africans, and 7.5 million Asians, are victims of the
\nHIV\/AIDS epidemic. Millions of our peoples do not have access to
\nclean water, proper education, energy, healthcare.<\/p>\n
Environmental degradation is pervasive. Armed conflicts of
\nvarious kinds kill our people, and distort our national
\ndevelopment. Terrorism and trans-national crimes are on the rise.
\nCorruption retards our national growth. And the people of
\nPalestine, after all these years, are still deprived of the
\nindependent and sovereign State, which is rightfully theirs.<\/p>\n
And that is why today, in 2005, we have to sound a different
\nbattle cry. In 1955, the battle cry of the day was "Freedom",
\nwhich made perfect sense given the persistence of colonialism
\nback then. But now that Asia and Africa are free, we must take on
\nthe next phase, of that battle for human dignity.<\/p>\n
That battle is called: the quest for good governance. And the
\nstruggle for good governance is not necessarily easier than the
\nstruggle for freedom.<\/p>\n
If Asia and Africa can learn anything from the past five
\ndecades, it is that the success or failure of governance,
\nexplains the success and failure of states. It also explains the
\nsuccess or failure of peace, the success or failure of
\ndevelopment, the success or failure of nation-building.<\/p>\n
Good governance is what will fulfill the promise of freedom
\nthat our fathers struggled for. And good governance is what will
\ntruly "liberate" Asia and Africa, and unleash our true
\npotentials.<\/p>\n
The vision of Asia-Africa therefore, should be a vision that
\nenhances good governance.<\/p>\n
But the worst thing you can do to a great vision is to deprive
\nit of practical detail.<\/p>\n
Thus, as we reaffirm our faith in the Bandung Spirit, now we
\nmust care to give it flesh and form.<\/p>\n
Let us now therefore build a Strategic Partnership, that will
\nbind our two continents in a vibrant, pragmatic and forward-
\nlooking way.<\/p>\n
That partnership should cover evenly three broad areas of
\ncooperation: political solidarity, economic cooperation, and
\nsocio-cultural relations.<\/p>\n
It should promote human resources development, enhance
\ncapacity building, and technical cooperation, to create an
\nconstructive environment for the region.<\/p>\n
That partnership should promote rich interaction at three
\nlevels: at the intergovernmental level, at the level of sub-
\nregional organizations, and at the level of people-to-people
\ncontact. That is why for that partnership to work, it will demand
\nthe active involvement of the business sector, the academia,
\ncivil society and the mass media.<\/p>\n
The operation of that Strategic Partnership should be based
\non, and guided by a wide range of agreed principles, that the
\nnations of Asia and Africa passionately believe in. Foremost of
\nthese principles are the Dasa Sila of Bandung, laid down by the
\nAsian-African Conference of 1955.<\/p>\n
And as a practical measure, the mechanics of our cooperation,
\nmust give allowances to the immense diversity of our social and
\neconomic systems, and levels of development.<\/p>\n
We should never be inward-looking. We should be non-exclusive,
\nand be willing to cooperate with all stakeholders. In particular,
\nAsia-Africa must be at the forefront of the global cooperation,
\nto reach the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals by
\n2015.<\/p>\n
The Strategic Partnership should also serve as an instrument
\nfor the promotion of a just, democratic, accountable and
\nharmonious society. Thus, we can strengthen the process of our
\nown nation-building and state-building, as well as social
\nintegration.<\/p>\n
Moreover, we must take it upon ourselves, to promote and
\nprotect human rights and fundamental freedoms.<\/p>\n
Not the least of these is the most basic of human rights "the
\nright to live!" No Asian or African should die, because he or
\nshe is too poor to live.<\/p>\n
And in the various multilateral forums where our interests are
\nat stake, we should coordinate our moves, and speak with one
\nstrong and clear voice. Acting as one community, we can make sure
\nthat, even the smallest among us will not be marginalized.<\/p>\n
I am glad that through this Summit, Asia and Africa remains
\nunyielding in supporting our Palestinian brothers and sisters, in
\ntheir epic struggle to gain their independent, sovereign state,
\nwhere they can be assured freedom, justice and peace.<\/p>\n
So these, brothers and sisters, are the principles that form
\nthe hallmark of the Strategic Partnership, which will lead us to
\nour true destiny.<\/p>\n
You know, in 1955, Indonesia's founding father and first
\nPresident, Sukarno, declared in Bandung that "Asia-Africa would
\nunleash the moral violence of nations, in favor of peace."
\nI believe that in 2005, Asia-Africa can be, and must be, more
\nthan a "moral force".<\/p>\n
Much more.<\/p>\n
Through this Strategic Partnership, Asia-Africa can be
\ntransformed, no longer just as a geographical expression, but as
\na true geopolitical and geo-economic reality.<\/p>\n
I believe that, if we revive and adapt the Bandung Spirit in
\nour hearts, and make this Partnership work for us, the story of
\nAsia-Africa in the 21st century, can be very different from its
\n20th century past.<\/p>\n
Asia-Africa will be a non-exclusive concert of nations living
\nin peace and harmony, bonded in partnership and conscious of its
\nhistoric and cultural roots.<\/p>\n
And Insya Allah (God willing), it will be one big caring
\nsociety, where our peoples will live in comfort and dignity, free
\nfrom fear of violence, oppression and injustice. We will all be
\nfree from the clutches of poverty, and at liberty to rise to our
\nfullest potential.<\/p>\n
That will be the ultimate freedom.<\/p>\n
I look forward to working, and sweating, with all of you to
\nachieve that Strategic Partnership, and to write the future
\nhistory of Asia-Africa.<\/p>\n
Thank you.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/partnership-leads-asia-africa-to-true-destiny-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }