(VOVworld) – President Truong Tan Sang will attend the Asian-African conference in Jakarta, Indonesia, from April 22-24 on the 60^th anniversary of the Bandung conference and the 10^th anniversary of the Asian-African Strategic Partnership. Vietnam’s participation realizes its global integration guidelines and shows its determination to work with Asian and African countries to protect the Bandung principles and international law. Vietnam aims to expand its strategic partnership with Indonesia and its cooperation with Asian and African countries.

President Truong Tan Sang

Themed “Advancing South-South cooperation for peace and prosperity in the world”, the Asian-African conference is expected to adopt agreements that enhance Asian-African relations following principles agreed at the 1^st Asian-African conference in Bandung city. Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang will attend the conference along with 109 other leaders from Asian and African countries.

Holding firm basic principles of the Bandung conference

The first Asian-African conference, held in Bandung city, Indonesia, in 1955, was attended by the leaders of 29 countries. It was considered a symbol of rebirth and unity of Asian and African countries. The Bandung conference set out 10 principles for international relations, including respect for sovereignty, no intervention, resolving disputes through peaceful means, and abiding by international law. The conference generated momentum for remarkable changes in the global political map including the establishment of independent states in Asia and Africa and a premise for the Non-aligned Movement and South-South cooperation.

Vietnam actively enhances the Asian-African cooperation framework

One of the 29 countries at the Bandung conference in 1955, Vietnam has been a proactive member ever since. President Tran Duc Luong led a Vietnamese delegation to the Asian-African conference on the 50^th anniversary of the Bandung conference in 2005. Vietnam has made specific recommendations such as the trilateral cooperative model and the Vietnam-African conference and has established diplomatic ties with 52 of Africa’s 55 countries. State leaders have visited Vietnam from Mozambique, Benin, Namibia, Rwanda, and Tanzania. Vietnam is the only country in ASEAN to have organized conferences with African countries, a typical model of south-south cooperation.

Economic and trade relations between Vietnam and Africa have grown steadily. Vietnam’s trade relations with the 55 African countries generated revenue of 4.3 billion USD in 2013. Vietnam has investment projects totaling 2 billion USD in Algeria, Morocco, Mozambique, Cameroon, Burundi, Tanzania, and Angola. Vietnam has sent thousands of experts in agriculture, education, and health to work in African countries. Vietnam has many advantages from its renewal process to share with Africa.

Reinforcing unity in Asian-African cooperation

Besides opportunities, cooperation between Africa and Asian countries like Vietnam has faced obstacles due to global political instability and competition. The Middle East and Africa continue to be hot-spots of extremism and terrorism.

The 2015 Asian-African conference, themed “Advancing south-south cooperation for peace and prosperity in the world”, will give top priority to peace and economic development and reaffirm the Bandung principles in Asian-African relations.