Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Asian and African regions have both gone through colonial period where experiences such as subjugation under external ruling as well as fighting for independence were part of their historical pathway. Those experiences and similar past have, to a significant extent, brought nations within these two regions closer together and such continent-to-continent intimacy was translated into the formulation of what we know as the Asia-Africa Conference (Bandung Conference).
The first conference which took place in 1955, has given countries within these two continents the access to promote Afro-Asian economics and cultures whilst preventing colonialism from subjugating them again.
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Thereafter, conferences have always been held on a regular basis each year where representatives of each country meet and discuss topics relevant to what they have established in the past. In April 2015, the 60th years commemoration of Asia-Africa Conference as well as the 10th New African Strategic Partnership events were held in both Jakarta and Bandung.
In trying to discuss further regarding the ideas and aspirations that were the products of the events held in April, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Relations decided to hold a gathering with both local and foreign journalists from Fiji, Madagascar, Vanuatu, Kenya, Tanzania, Solomon Island and Ethiopia. The gathering of ‘Journalist Visit Program’ was themed ‘Afternoon Tea’ and took place at Waroeng Kopi Alun Alun Indonesia in Grand Indonesia West Mall on the afternoon of November 15 2015.
From the discussion held, it has been discovered that the conference lacks one positive thing that needs to be further considered. The Editor in Chief of Focus magazine\, Elias Aweke posited that the conference should not have been remembered in a form of celebration ‘like a birthday every five or ten years because there is no need to talk about the same thing’. He went to share how he was also present during the 45th Asia-Africa Conference 15 years ago in Indonesia.
“We preach about the same thing… it is the era of Africa and Africa, the Bandung conference has to be institutionalized,” he posited.
According to him, the conference should have been ‘institutionalized’ as to symbolically and legitimately prove that there is a platform for the furtherance of the relationship between the two continents and not just the effort to maintain the festivity of what had been established back in 1955.
“It has accomplished its mission regarding colonialism,” he continued explaining.
He views the legitimization of such conference by institutionalizing it as deemed important. With decades passing by quickly, the political and economic landscape changes in accordance to the global issues that surround these Asian and African nations. Therefore, it is necessitated that the furtherance of such conference is not expressed through a celebratory gesture but through extensive dialogues and deepened cooperation on sectors that are relevant to today’s regional political, financial, societal and security needs.
“Back in 2010, they tried to reframe it to a strategic partnership of Bandung Conference,” he added.
The reframing of the name for him, is not enough to support the institutionalization of the Asia- Africa Conference. He claims that ‘it has to be practical’ in a sense that we can tangibly experience the positive outcomes of such conference. (Akp/Tnt)