Leaders of various Vietnamese people’s organizations, former Vietnamese envoys to Asian and African countries, and senior Asian and African diplomats attended a celebration in Hanoi of the 60th anniversary of the first Asian-African Conference held in Bandung, Indonesia (April 1955-2015). The event was organized on 16 April by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) and its affiliates. VUFO Vice-President Nguyễn Thị Hoàng Vân presided over the event. Vũ Trọng Kim, member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, Vice-President-cum-General Secretary of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, was among the participants. The foreign guests included Ambassadors and other diplomats from Algeria, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Palestine, South Africa and Sri Lanka In his commemorative speech, Phạm Văn Chương, President of the Vietnam Committee for Asian-African-Latin American Solidarity and Cooperation, expressed confidence in the futher revitalization of the Bandung Spirit in the current context of globalization. Nguyễn Văn Huỳnh, Vice-President of the Vietnam Peace Committee, underlined the importance of the ten principles guiding promotion of peace, cooperation and peaceful coexistence highlighted in the Final Communique of the 1955 Bandung Conference. Information on the forthcoming activities in Indonesia marking the Bandung Conference anniversary was shared by Yudi Fitriandi, Counsellor of the Indonesian Embassy. Saadi Salama, Ambassador of the Palestine State, expressed thanks to Asian and African countries for their long-standing support to the struggle of the people of Palestine. Trần Tam Giáp and Vũ Quang Diệm, former Vietnamese Ambassadors to Egypt and India, respectively, highlighted the important contributions made by these countries to the Asian-African solidarity movement. Follow the main contents of Phạm Văn Chương’s speech: “Sixty years ago, on the initiative of Burma (now Myanmar), Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), India, Indonesia and Pakistan, leaders of 29 states in Asia and Africa met at the Asia-Africa Conference held in Bandung, Indonesia, from the 18th to 24th of April 1955. “Bringing together nations with more than half the world’s population at the time, this major international event symbolized the awakening of oppressed nations in Asia and Africa after many centuries as colonies or dependencies. It marked an initial step taken by emerging Asian and African nations onto the international political arena to participate together, actively and pro-actively, in the solution of common regional and world problems. “The Conference paid particular attention to enhancement of solidarity and cooperation among Asian and African states and peoples, peaceful co-existence, promotion of world peace and international cooperation. Such is also the core of the Bandung Spirit – the invaluable legacy left to us by the Conference. Established six years afterward (in September 1961) on the foundations laid by the Bandung Conference, the Non-Aligned Movement succeeded to that attention and legacy. “In the Bandung Spirit, over the last sixty years, the Governments and people of many Asian and African countries have reserved for Vietnam a priceless solidarity, assistance and cooperation during our past struggle for national liberation and reunification as well as in our present efforts in national reconstruction and development. Allow me to take this opportunity to reiterate the Vietnamese people’s sincere gratitude for that solidarity, assistance and cooperation. “Sixty years have elapsed; great and profound changes have taken place in the world, in Asia, in Africa and right in each of our countries. Yet, the spirit of solidarity, cooperation and promotion of peace manifested at the Bandung Conference remains as relevant as ever. “As the globalization process is confronting developing countries with both opportunities and challenges, and as peace and security remain a profound concern from Asia to Africa, we appreciate the contributions of many Asian and African countries to the strengthening of economic and cultural cooperation and the promotion of peace, thus helping revitalize the Bandung Spirit. We value highly the outcome of the Asia-Africa Summit in Jakarta in 2005 marking the 50th anniversary of the original Bandung Conference with the participation of over 80 heads of state or government, and with the aim of making Asian-African cooperation deeper and more structured and systematic. We also rejoice at the birth of the ASEAN Community by the end of this year, regarding it as a possible concretization of the Bandung Spirit at the Southeast Asian level. “… Next week, a series of major activities will take place in Indonesia in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Bandung Conference, culminating in a Summit with the prospective presence of over 100 heads of state or government plus representatives of many international organizations. Allow me to convey our heartfelt congratulations to Indonesia for the great honor – and also the heavy responsibility – of being once more the host of events which will certainly revitalize further the Bandung Spirit right in its homeland. May these activities be crowned with the best of successes. “May I also wish splendid success to all celebrations of the Bandung Conference anniversary, anywhere in Asia, Africa and the world over.”/. |
1955 Bandung Conference anniversary celebrated
Source:vpdf.org.vn
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