Asia and Africa need to enhance cooperation

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.