NEW ASIAN-AFRICAN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP (NAASP)

Translate Bandung Spirit Into Action

 Political Commentator 

LEADERS and Heads of States of over 100 countries – the  largest ever gathering of Asian and African leaders – converged  at  Bandung on the occasion of the 50th  anniversary of the historic 1955 Bandung Conference.  In 1955, 29 Asian and African countries collectively brought their  interests to the world stage at a time of growing decolonisation.  The Heads of many newly born countries with their dreams, visions and ambitions in times of great changes came together for a meeting which Sukarno, the first prime minister of Indonesia and the host, described as “the first intercontinental meeting of coloured peoples in the history of mankind”.  With India’s Jawaharlal Nehru, China’s Zhou Enlai and many African leaders whose countries had yet to attain formal independence, this conference articulated what has become famous as the “spirit of Bandung”.

This solidarity, based on ten binding principles of non-aggression and peaceful friendship, grew over the years into the powerful non-aligned movement. The essence of this spirit  was that these newly independent countries will chart out an independent trajectory for their development resisting all attempts at blandishment and economic subjugation.

Fifty years later, many of these countries have grown to become powerful nations in the world.  Together the countries present in Bandung 2005 represent over two-thirds of the world’s population.  This summit was co-hosted by Indonesia and South Africa. This conference adopted a very important declaration on the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP).

In the present world situation where imperialist globalisation is seeking the economic recolonisation of the third world countries, the solidarity expressed by the third world at Bandung assumes significance.  As we have repeatedly noted, it is the resistance of the peoples from the third world that will have to be strengthened in order to meet the new aggressiveness displayed by US imperialism. Though no country or imperialism has been named in the final declaration, the principles reiterated and the emphasis given on maintaining an independent trajectory of development for all these countries in itself constitutes a strong defence of the economics and political sovereignty of all the countries concerned. It is precisely this sovereignty that imperialist aggressiveness assails. 

In this context,  it is significant that the NAASP declaration notes: “We reiterate our conviction that the Spirit of Bandung, the core principles of which are solidarity, friendship and cooperation, continues to be a solid, relevant and effective foundation for fostering better relations among Asian and African countries and resolving global issues of common concern.”

In the current international situation, after the end of the Cold War bipolarity, the natural tendency in international relations is that of multi-polarity. It is precisely this multi-polarity that US imperialism seeks to subvert and, in its place, impose an uni-polarity under its leadership. In this background, the declaration of the NAASP significantly notes: “We emphasise the importance of multilateral approaches to international relations and the need for countries to strictly abide by the principles of international law, in particular the Charter of the United Nations. As Asia and Africa represent the majority in the community of nations, we reaffirm the need to support and strengthen multilateralism in order to address global issues, including reforming multilateral institutions.”

The 1955 Bandung spirit not only gave birth to the non-aligned movement but also led to the development of the “South-South Cooperation”. Emphasising the importance of such cooperation amongst the developing countries, the declaration notes: “We recognise that the current global situation and the prevailing conditions in Asia and Africa necessitate the need to actively pursue a common view and collective action to ensure the equitable sharing of the benefits of globalisation. We are determined to meet the internationally agreed targets and goals aimed at poverty eradication, development and growth, and underline the necessity for all parties to honour their commitments in this regard. We emphasise the importance of enhancing cooperation with all regions”.

Further, “We underscore the urgency of promoting economic development in the Asian and African regions, as stipulated in the 1955 Bandung conference. We stress that poverty and under-development, gender mainstreaming, communicable diseases, environmental degradation, natural disasters, drought and desertification, digital divide, inequitable market access, and foreign debt, remain as issues of common concern which call for our closer cooperation and collective action.

We envision an Asian-African region at peace with itself and with the world at large working together as a concert of nations in harmony, non-exclusive, bonded in dynamic partnership and conscious of our historical ties and cultural heritage. We visualise an affluent Asian-African region characterised by equitable growth, sustainable development as well as a common determination to enhance the quality of life and well-being of our people. We further envisage a caring Asian-African society where the people live in stability, prosperity, dignity and free from the fear of violence, oppression and injustice.

To this end, we hereby declare, as an expression of our new political will, the establishment of a New Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) as a framework to build a bridge between Asia and Africa covering three broad areas of partnership, namely political solidarity, economic cooperation, and socio-cultural relations. The strategic partnership provides a momentum in achieving peace, prosperity and progress, and will be based on the following principles and ideals:

1. The Ten Principles of Bandung of the 1955 Asian–African Conference;

2. Recognition of diversity between and within the regions, including different social and economic systems and levels of development;

3. Commitment to open dialogue, based on mutual respect and benefit;

4. Promotion of non-exclusive cooperation by involving all stakeholders;

5. Attainment of practical and sustainable cooperation based on comparative advantage, equal partnership, common ownership and vision, as well as a firm and shared conviction to address common challenges;

6. Promotion of sustainable partnership by complementing and building upon existing regional/sub-regional initiatives in Asia and Africa;

7. Promotion of a just, democratic, transparent, accountable and harmonious society;

8. Promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development;

9. Promotion of collective and unified efforts in multilateral fora.”

Viewed in the current international situation, this declaration is of immense significance.  This must be put into practice and not consigned to shelves for reference. The translation of many of these objectives will be resisted, even sabotaged, by imperialism in its pursuit of its global ambitions of hegemony.  Nevertheless, the declaration, in itself, is  important.  More important, however, will be its translation into action in the days to come.