What leaders say about new strategic partnership<\/p>\n
Many of the Asian and African leaders attending the two-day
\nsummit that opened in Jakarta on Friday have signed Asian-African
\nStrategic Partnership (NAASP). The to recognize the relevance of
\nthe solidarity, friendship and cooperation initiated by the Asian
\nand African leaders who attended the historic 1955 conference in
\nBandung. The following are comments by some of the leaders at
\nthe summit's opening.<\/p>\n
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of Indonesia:<\/p>\n
I believe that in 2005, Asia-Africa can be, and must be, more
\nthan a "moral force". Much more. Through this strategic
\npartnership, Asia-Africa can be transformed, from no longer being
\njust a geographical expression, but as a true geopolitical and
\ngeo-economic reality.<\/p>\n
Thabo Mbeki, President of South Africa:<\/p>\n
We have made significant strides towards giving real meaning
\nto the critical objective of South-South cooperation, the
\ncooperation visualized by the freedom fighters who met in Bandung
\nin 1955, which we seek radically to expand through the
\nestablishment of the new Asian-African strategic partnership. We
\nhave built some of the institutional mechanisms we need to enable
\nus to act together to achieve our common goals. These include the
\nAfrican Union, its development program NEPAD, ASEAN and others.<\/p>\n
Hu Jintao, President of China:<\/p>\n
We must actively promote and improve North-South relations on
\nthe basis of equality and mutual benefit, facilitating North-
\nSouth dialog and cooperation, safeguarding and expanding the
\nlegitimate rights and interests of developing countries,
\nachieving a win-win result through reciprocity and
\ncomplementarity, and contributing to human progress by advancing
\nthe cause of world peace, stability and prosperity.<\/p>\n
Junichiro Koizumi, Prime Minister of Japan:<\/p>\n
Japan places great emphasis on the strengthening of
\npartnerships in the areas of poverty reduction and development.
\nFrom this point of view, Japan will ensure a credible and
\nsufficient level of Overseas Development Assistance (ODA). In
\naddition, Japan will be seeking concrete actions to further
\nexpand market access to products from the least developed
\ncountries in order to support their self-reliance.<\/p>\n
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Prime Minister of Malaysia,
\nChairman of the Organization of Islamic Conference:<\/p>\n
Asia and Africa must take the lead in strengthening ties with
\ncivil society, which can be a force and factor for national
\ndevelopment, as well as in our quest for a just, democratic and
\nprogressive world. Asia and Africa must also work closely to
\ncombat negative perceptions about Asian and Africa depicted by
\nthe international media. We must ensure that good governance
\nprevails at the national levels in our respective countries.<\/p>\n
Olusegun Obasanjo, President of Nigeria and Chairman
\nof the African Union:<\/p>\n
The Asian African partnership should strengthen our economic
\ninteraction with the wider world such that the rules of the game
\nshould not continue to be to our disadvantage but rather
\nequitable and fair. We should, therefore, actively participate in
\nstrengthening our activities in international organizations by
\ncoordinating our strategies and by according each other mutually
\nbeneficial support in pursuit of our common interests.<\/p>\n
Thaksin Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand:<\/p>\n
To create a workable partnership at the intercontinental
\nlevel, may I suggest that the Asia Cooperation Dialog and the
\nAfrican Union consider initiating a mechanism that could involve
\nsome pioneer members on both sides to work out a number of
\nfunctional cooperation projects that feel comfortable to lead
\noff. Others may join whenever they are ready at their own
\nconvenience.<\/p>\n
Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan<\/p>\n
We must build a future where quality education and health care
\nare not only privileges of the wealthy but the rights of all;
\nwhere our faiths rightly guide us to serve humanity, not to harm
\nit and where a concern for collective well-being has replaced
\nnarrow national interests.<\/p>\n
Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore<\/p>\n
For Africa, it can latch onto Asia's growth by strengthening
\ntrade and business linkages. For Asia, this is the missing piece
\nfrom our network of linkages with North American, the European
\nUnion and Latin America. The new Asian-African strategic
\npartnership must develop concrete initiatives and projects that
\nwill broaden our understanding of each other's needs and
\naspirations, strengths and capabilities, and enhance people-to-
\npeople exchanges. Singapore supports the new Asian-African
\nstrategic partnership.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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