Asia and Africa need to enhance cooperation

Santo Darmosumarto, Jakarta

In 1955, 29 Asian-African leaders gathered in Bandung to declare their commitment to promoting closer cooperation for the benefit of the peoples of their newly independent countries. Although coming from places afar, they spoke a common language of political solidarity, economic cooperation, and greater socio- cultural relations. Having just broken free from the shackles of Western colonialism, these leaders spoke out against the disadvantageous global climate at the time, which was dominated by the Cold War's East-West confrontation.

The gathering became a defining moment in the history of developing countries and the resultant Spirit of Bandung would inspire not only the creation of other new states, but also the development of movements such as the South-South cooperation movement and the Non-Aligned Movement, which were aimed at addressing the challenges continuously faced by the developing world.

Almost fifty years later, in all honesty, what do the Asian- African countries have to show? How far has the development of Asian-African cooperation truly gone?

Numerous factors such as the slow process of nation and state- building, as well as a lack of political will and economic resources, have hindered a full realization of the vision expounded by the leaders in Bandung. We can see that many of the countries on these two continents remain on the margins of the world's economic globalization. And with these countries' lack of economic potential, they also suffer from an inability to fully harness the potential of their political independence and to assume a more equal role in international politics.

The Asian-African Summit in Jakarta in April 2005 should, therefore, provide an occasion for the countries of these two continents to not only reassess their relations, but also build on existing initiatives toward the creation of a greater, mutually-beneficial partnership. The outcome of the event, which will be held in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the Bandung Conference, must demonstrate to the world, and most importantly to the peoples of the two continents, the relevance of the Spirit of Bandung in providing a guiding light for the continued development of Asian-African cooperation, as it attempts to address the challenges brought forth by the new millennium.

The UN Millennium Declaration, pronounced in September 2000, outlined the challenges facing the world today, particularly in the developing world. Undoubtedly, much of these are most prevalent in Asia and Africa; they demonstrate that far from attaining the goals set out by the two regions' leaders in Bandung almost 50 years ago, many countries are facing extreme difficulties in ensuring dignified lives for their peoples.

Poverty, in all its dimensions, remains rampant; conflicts, both within and between states, cause continuous instability; and many Asian and African countries are finding it difficult to cope with economic globalization, let alone reap its benefits.

Numerous studies have identified the African continent as the region most threatened by current conditions in international affairs. Between 1980 and 2000, negative per capita growth and population control problems have not only resulted in extreme poverty and debt, but also the rapid degradation of Africa's natural environment. Adding to these problems, the growth of transnational organized crime, the unchecked spread of communicable diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS, and adverse geopolitical conditions are eroding the ability of African governments and peoples to strengthen their process of nation and state-building.

Indeed, some of the issues of common concern remain similar to those voiced in 1955. While the developed countries could also be blamed for worsening conditions by reneging on their commitments to assist African development, it needs to be recognized that in places where governments are poorly functioning and governance is weak, the allocation of foreign aid could be put to the wrong uses, which in the end will not benefit those needing aid the most.

Although the focus of many development assistance efforts has been on Africa, it is a fact that similar conditions also exist in Asia. In spite of the rapid development of many Asian countries in the latter part of the twentieth century, much of the region continues to face difficulties in coping with the growth of this face-paced, digital world.

One does not have to look far for examples of this as many parts of Indonesia are still suffering from the challenges of development. As such, efforts to increase our cooperation should not merely focus on raising the living standards of African peoples, but also address similar problems existing in Asia.

Africa has identified the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) as an African Union-led, -owned, and -managed initiative for engagement with the international community in efforts to improve socio-politico-economic conditions on the continent.

Asia lacks such an initiative; however, it possesses other forms of sub-regional and regional mechanisms, which, although different, also aim at the development of the region as a whole. In attempting to address the problems facing the region, there is a need to establish Asian-African cooperation that builds on and complements existing initiatives, such as NEPAD and these other regional and sub-regional mechanisms.

It is understandable that much of what needs to be done is to ensure not only that development assistance from the developed world continues, but also that such assistance is directed toward targeted programs. However, it is also important that the Asian and African countries do not lose sight of the significance of their relations, which have existed for so long. Much can, and should, be learned from one another as well as from the Asian and African countries' capacity to work hand-in-hand towards the advancement of their peoples.

Herein lies the inherent problem faced by most Asian and African leaders. The inability to truly understand the potential strength that could be harnessed by the two regions has resulted in each region overly relying on assistance from other sources. Asia and Africa can learn from each other. And in this globalized world, an inability to recognize and address one another's challenges (which are actually very similar) will only result in common grief.

The writer is an official with the Indonesian Department of Foreign Affairs. The views expressed are entirely personal.