China sends message to mark Bandung fete

China sends message to mark Bandung fete

BEIJING (AFP): Chinese Premier Li Peng, in a message of congratulation on the 40th anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference, stressed yesterday the importance of the "Bandung Spirit" to fight hegemonism.

Although the world "is, on the whole, moving towards relaxation, hegemonism and power politics still exist and the world is by no means free from trouble," with profound and complex changes taking place, Li said.

The spirit of the "epoch-making" 1955 conference in Bandung in Indonesia is therefore of "important immediate significance," he said, adopting China's habitual stance as the champion of developing nations.

The 1955 Bandung conference was attended by representatives of 25 nations, providing a catalyst for a wave of decolonization that swept the world in the 1950s and becoming the inspiration for the formation of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in 1961.

The original Bandung conference "gave expression to the awakening and solidarity of the Asian and African peoples and demonstrated the important role played by developing countries on the international arena," said Li.

"Inspired by the Bandung Spirit, developing nations have waged unyielding struggle to obtain and safeguard national independence, oppose aggression and expansion, maintain world peace ... and they have won great victory in this regard."

"The developing countries have become a decisive force in international affairs," he added, pledging China's willingness to work with other countries to realize "the lofty goals set forth by the Bandung conference."