70 years on, Bandung Spirit charts course for Global South development

The Asian-African Conference marks its 70th anniversary this year. Also known as the Bandung Conference, it was held in Bandung, Indonesia, on April 18, 1955. This landmark event marked the first time that countries from the Global South united to oppose imperialism and colonialism, defending their sovereign rights and advocating for a more equitable world.

Leaders and representatives from 29 Asian and African countries proposed the Bandung Spirit, with "solidarity, friendship and cooperation" at its core.

Seven decades later, the Bandung Spirit continues to inspire countries in the Global South to pursue a new path of common development through win-win cooperation, under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and other platforms.

At the opening ceremony of the Asian-African Conference, Sukarno, Indonesia's first president, called for awakening on behalf of the Southern countries.

"Wherever, whenever and however it appears, colonialism is an evil thing, and it must be eradicated from the earth," Sukarno stated in his speech.

"I hope that it will give evidence of the fact that we Asian and African leaders understand that Asia and Africa can prosper only when they are united, and that even the safety of the world at large cannot be safeguarded without a united Asia-Africa," he added.

Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai, who led a Chinese delegation to the conference, proposed making the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence the foundation for establishing friendly cooperation among developing countries.

These principles, first proposed by Zhou during a meeting with an Indian government delegation on December 31, 1953, and later incorporated into joint statements issued by China with India and Myanmar in 1954, became a vital part of the Bandung Spirit. They were later accepted by the vast majority of countries worldwide as the basic norms of international relations and the core principles of international law.

On Tuesday (April 15), a conference commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference was held in Beijing, bringing together diplomats, scholars and policymakers from across Asia and Africa.

The event explored the enduring relevance of the Bandung Spirit and its role in shaping a more inclusive global order in the 21st century.

"Over the past 70 years, both the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the Bandung Spirit have been incorporated into a number of key international documents, gaining broad recognition and adherence across the global community," said Zhao Zhimin, secretary-general of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Indonesian Ambassador to China Djauhari Oratmangun stated that the Bandung Conference's call for a more just and equitable international order gave strong momentum to the decolonization movement and the rise of the Non-Aligned Movement across Asia and Africa.

"Although the world has changed significantly, the original call for a fairer international order remains highly relevant," he added, emphasizing the importance of strengthening South-South cooperation in areas such as digital transformation, regional connectivity, food and energy security, and global governance reform.

The Bandung Spirit's emphasis on respecting differences, embracing coexistence, and prioritizing consultation offers valuable insights for addressing today's governance challenges," said Zhai Kun, deputy director of the Institute of Area Studies at Peking University.

For decades, China has upheld, inherited, and advanced the Bandung Spirit.

From the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind to the three global initiatives – namely, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative – the diplomatic concepts and governance solutions proposed by China align with the Bandung Spirit.

In a written speech to a roundtable on carrying forward the Bandung Spirit held on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for inheriting and carrying forward the Bandung Spirit to build a common home of peace, tranquility, prosperity, beauty and friendship.

Noting that China is committed to building a community with a shared future for mankind, he said it will provide new opportunities, create new space, and inject new impetus for the development of the Global South and other countries around the world.