Nostalgic walk for AA Summit
Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Around 60 heads of state/government from Asian and African nations will participate in a nostalgic walk along Jl. Asia- Africa to Merdeka building in the West Java provincial capital of Bandung, where the leaders of the two continents proclaimed the famous 10 Principles 50 years ago.
The dignitaries will follow the same route that was taken by the leaders of 29 countries in 1955. They will walk from Savoy Homann hotel along Jl. Asia-Africa to Merdeka building, where the Golden Jubilee celebrations will be held on April 24, 2005.
The Asia-Africa Conference was held in Bandung from April 18 to April 24, 1995 and attended by the leaders of 29 countries, including the five sponsoring countries: Indonesia (host), India, Pakistan, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and Burma (now Myanmar).
"By doing so, we hope the spirit of the former leaders will be with the present leaders," Bali Moniaga, director for African affairs at the foreign office, told The Jakarta Post.
The nostalgic walk will be led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda accompanied by State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra.
The heads of state and other participants will arrive in Bandung on April 24 to attend the commemoration of the golden jubilee of the Asia-Africa Conference of 1995.
They are also scheduled to observe a minute of silence before opening remarks to be given by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, South African President Thabo Mbeki and a representative from a non-Asian or African country.
Director for information and media at the foreign ministry Lutfi Rauf said that the heads of state and their spouses would be transported by plane to Bandung, while other delegations would travel by road.
In addition to 104 countries from Asia and Africa, the government has also invited 25 member countries of the Non- Aligned Movement (NAM) to attend the golden jubilee celebrations.
After launching a declaration on the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP), the heads of state will plant trees taken from their respected countries at Tegallega Park in Bandung.
In Tegallega Park, the participants will be welcomed by Indonesian Minister of Forestry MS Kaban and State Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik.
The ceremony will be a symbol of the start of a partnership between the two continents.
"Each head of state will plant a tree as a sign of the start of a new partnership (between the two continents)," Lutfi told reporters on Tuesday.
The state guests will be also entertained by traditional dances during their visit to Pakuan building, the residence of the West Java governor.
On the commemoration day, Lutfi said all access to streets around Merdeka building will be totally closed to the public.
Prior to the commemoration of the golden jubilee, all the delegates will attend a gigantic Asian-African Summit in Jakarta.
The two-day summit, which will begin on April 22, will discuss new cooperation and the mechanism needed to continue the partnership in the future.