Historic walk jazzing up refreshed Bandung Spirit

Updated: 2015-04-24 15:59

(Xinhua)

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Historic walk jazzing up refreshed Bandung Spirit

An honour guard marches with the national flags of the participating countries during the reenactment of the historic walk from 1955 along Asia Africa Street, at the conclusion of the Asian African Summit in Bandung, West Java, April 24, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

At the start of Friday's historic walk, Indonesian military honor guard, in all-white uniform, opened the event with flags in hands.

The leaders, led by Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Chinese President Xi Jinping on their less than 10-minute stroll, waved to groups of spectaculars dressed in attires of various cultures from the two continents.

"The first Bandung Conference hosted representatives from 29 countries and now more than 100 nations sent their delegates," said Muhammad Dale, a Bandung resident.

The leaders flew to Bandung, a city with high volcanic peaks, hot springs and tea plantations in easy reach, from Jakarta.

In the capital, they concluded a two-day Asian-African summit, panning out three documents - the Bandung Message, the Declaration on Re-invigorating the New Asian African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) and the Declaration on Palestine.

The leaders, at the summit, agreed to carry on the Bandung Spirit through concrete actions.

Friday's walk ended at Merdeka Building where some leaders delivered speeches to reaffirm their commitment to boosting South- South cooperation.

"In this room presented our predecessors who inspired the world. In this room, the spirit of the initiator and great leader Sukarno still echoes," Joko Widodo said.

In Bandung, the then leaders started the struggle for independence, prosperity and justice for the nations in Asia and Africa, which must be continued 60 years later, he stressed.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, in his speech, praised the China-initiated Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank as "the voice of the South."

He also called for united efforts in boosting the South-South cooperation.

Later on Friday, the leaders formally endorsed the Bandung Message, which urges for stronger Asian-African cooperation.

Bandung, bathing the cool, cozy dry season breeze, saw the bright blue sky on Friday, as residents and the visiting leaders seemed all anticipating a more harmonious world.

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Schedule

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Pakistan and attend the Asian-African Summit and activities commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Bandung Conference in Indonesia from April 20 to 24.

April 22
Attend the opening ceremony of the Asian-African Summit;
Meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo;

April 23
Bilateral meetings;
Attend the closing ceremony of the Asian-African Summit;

April 24
Historical walk from Savoy Homann Hotel to Gedung Merdeka;
Attend activities commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Bandung Conference;

...