1.

Globalisation has brought Asia, Africa closer: PM Lee stresses that more needs to be done for the region to appreciate what the continent has to offer.

AFTER Singapore became independent 50 years ago, the government sent missions to various African countries to explore new trade and business opportunities.

Lee U-Wen
Business Times, 23 April 2015
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/government-economy/globalisation-has-brought-asia-africa-closer

2.

Rousing Applause as President Jokowi Criticizes the UN for being "Powerless" at Asia-Africa Conference: President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo on Wednesday (22/4) prompted a rousing applause from Asian-African nation leaders as he called the United Nations (UN) powerless when facing global injustices. He stressed the need to reform the UN at the 60th commemoration of the Asian-Africa Conference. Jokowi was delivering a speech on Wednesday (22/4) morning at the Jakarta Convention Center to officially open the commemoration summit that is attended by 32 leaders from Asia and Africa.

Early in his speech, which he delivered in the Indonesian language, the Indonesian president described the current world's situation which he said is composed of injustices and equalities. Asian and African countries are now still struggling to improve their welfare and prosperity, Jokowi said.

Leo Jegho
Global Indonesian Voices, 23 April 2015
http://www.globalindonesianvoices.com/20382/rousing-applause-as-president-jokowi-criticizes-the-un-for-being-powerless-at-asia-africa-conference/

3.

Why Jokowi and Xi Jinping Wear Matching Batik Color at the Asian-African Conference Gala Dinner: The gala dinner was special, not only because prominent guests were all wrapped in the traditional Indonesian batik, but also because two emerging and giant economy leaders, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indonesian President Jokowi, were seen wearing batik of similar color, blue. The matching color attracted attention and whether there exist a hidden message that was attempted to be conveyed through their dress.

The Asian-African conference focuses in strengthening the partnership between countries in the two continents, which at the time of the initial conference in 1955, many have recently gained their independence after significant period of colonialism.

Leo Jegho
Global Indonesian Voices, 23 April 2015
http://www.globalindonesianvoices.com/20375/why-jokowi-and-xi-jinping-wear-matching-batik-color-at-the-asian-african-conference-gala-dinner/

4.

Editorial: Don't just blame the rich: Many of Jokowi's key points in his speech were very similar to those of then president Soeharto when he opened the 10th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in September 1992. Soeharto insisted on the urgency to reform the UN and the need to boost South-South economic and trade cooperation and eradicate global injustices and the domination of a small number of rich and powerful nations.

The similarities indicate that there has been little progress in the realization of those aspirations toward the reduction of the hegemony of certain countries in the global economy and politics. The gathering of Asian and African leaders, although not all of them are poor and underdeveloped, such as Japan and China, is the right moment to find concrete and effective measures to build a better home for millions of people in the two continents who are living in destitution and deprivation. As President Jokowi has rightly pointed out, developing nations should do more than just blame others for their plight.

Jakarta Post, 23 April 2015
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/23/editorial-don-t-just-blame-rich.html

5.

Indian-Indonesian camaraderie: Indian PM Narendra Modi, while on a tour of three Western countries, regrettably wrote a letter on April 16 to Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo about his inability to attend the conference and dispatched his foreign minister to attend on his behalf. Is it a diplomatic oversight for President Jokowi, who sent an invitation very late as reported in Indian media (New India Express, March 22) and who couldn't accommodate dates of the Indian PM? Or is it Modi's rejection of the long-standing (erstwhile) Non-Aligned Movement espoused by Nehru himself with Sukarno?

President Jokowi, who was born exactly five years after the Bandung Conference, would have a different perspective of the spirit of Afro-Asian solidarity than the Indian PM, who was born five years earlier. Despite both coming from humble backgrounds with no links to an elite political class, it's Jokowi who might be more inclined to the ethos of the Nehru-Sukarno ideals of the five principles of peaceful co-existence (Panchasheel in Sanskrit), which was a product of the African-Asian Summit, suitable for that era and relevant now for countries that follow independent foreign policies. His foreign policy is the continuation of the "free and active" policy successive Indonesian governments have been following since Sukarno.

Avilash Roul is senior fellow at the Society for the Study of Peace and Conflict (SSPC), New Delhi.
Jakarta Post, 23 April 2015
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/04/23/indian-indonesian-camaraderie.html

6.

Indonesia's Widodo urges break from Western-led order: Indonesian President Joko Widodo staked out a new, more prominent role for his country among developing economies in opening remarks at the Asia-Africa summit, where he called on emerging nations to break away from the Western economic order. Asia and Africa must demand reform at the United Nations, Widodo said as the summit convened Wednesday for the 60th anniversary of a landmark gathering of leaders from both continents. His comment was met with applause.

The idea that global economic problems can be solved only through the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank is "obsolete and must be abandoned," he said. Widodo has been trying to assert himself as a leader among emerging nations. He has attended a number of international meetings since taking office in October, such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and the Group of 20 summit, but was unable to make a strong impression among industrialized countries and regional giants like China and India.

Sadachika Watanabe, Nikkei staff writer
Nikkei Asian Review, 23 April 2015
http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/International-Relations/Indonesia-s-Widodo-urges-break-from-Western-led-order

7.

Xi all smiles this time as he promotes new bank: Chinese President Xi Jinping smiled as he shook hands with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe here Wednesday, striking a friendly tone in hopes of getting Japan on board for a China-led international lender. This was in sharp contrast to their meeting about five months earlier, when Xi kept a stern expression while shaking Abe's hand. The two leaders talked for about 30 minutes on the sidelines of an Asia-Africa summit. While relations between the two Asian nations remain strained, Xi apparently agreed to meet with Abe to cajole Tokyo into participating in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

To the chagrin of Asian neighbors, Abe did not mention Japan's "colonial rule and aggression" or offer a "heartfelt apology" during his speech at the meeting marking the 60th anniversary of the Bandung Conference. That Xi still agreed to meet with the prime minister seems to indicate that the Chinese leader, having consolidated his power base at home, is now ready to improve foreign relations to stabilize the domestic economy.

Hiroyuki Akiyama and Gaku Shimada, Nikkei staff writers
Nikkei Asian Review, 23 April 2015
http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/International-Relations/Xi-all-smiles-this-time-as-he-promotes-new-bank

8.

Asia, Africa leaders challenge 'obsolete' world order: LEADERS of Asian and African nations called yesterday for a new global order that is open to emerging economic powers and leaves the "obsolete ideas" of Bretton Woods institutions in the past.

Their calls came at the opening of a meeting of Asian and African nations in Jakarta to mark the 60th anniversary of a conference that made a developing-world stand against colonialism and led to the Cold War era's non-aligned movement. Among the leaders listening were Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who were expected to meet on the sidelines of the conference, the latest sign of a thaw in relations between the Asian rivals.

Reuters, 23 April 2015
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/22/us-asia-africa-idUSKBN0ND09820150422

9.

China, Japan Spar Over Future of Asia-Africa Cooperation: While commemorating the 1955 Bandung Conference, China and Japan lay out competing visions for Asia and Africa.

Shannon Tiezzi
The Diplomat, 23 April 2015
http://thediplomat.com/2015/04/china-japan-spar-over-future-of-asia-africa-cooperation/

10.

Asia Africa Ministerial Meeting views Dasasila Bandung as still relevant: The Asia Africa Ministerial Meeting (AAMM) held on Monday considers the Dasasila Bandung (Ten Principles of Bandung) as still relevant to address a wide range of current challenges, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi stated. "At the meeting, the ministers came up with several ideas stressing that Dasasila Bandung is still relevant to address the current challenges," she stated while conveying the outcome of the AAMM during the Asian-African Summit at the Jakarta Convention Center on Wednesday.

Antara News, 22 April 2015
http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/98619/asia-africa-ministerial-meeting-views-dasasila-bandung-as-still-relevant

11.

Indonesia`s First Lady introduces batik at AAC 2015: First Lady Iriana Widodo introduced batik, the traditional Indonesian technique of wax resist dyeing, to the wives of heads of state at the Textile Museum in Central Jakarta on Wednesday.

The event was dedicated to the wives of heads of state attending the Asia-Africa Conference in Jakarta. East Timors First Lady Taur Matan Ruak, Zimbabwes First Lady Robert Mugabe, Madagascars First Lady Hery Rajaonarimampianina, Mufidah Kalla, and Veronica Tan were present at the event. The entourage arrived at the Textile Museum around 10.00 A.M. local time and was welcomed by First Lady Iriana and Mufidah Kalla. The wife of every head of state received a batik similar to that was worn by Iriana and Mufidah Kalla on the occasion. The delegation made a tour of the Textile Museum that has a collection of batik and woven fabrics. Lady Iriana and Mufidah Kalla also invited their guest to see the batik process.

Antara News, 22 April 2015
http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/98622/indonesias-first-lady-introduces-batik-at-aac-2015

12.

Abe praises summit with Chinese leader Xi as very productive: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on April 22 as "very fruitful" after they met here for the first time in five months on the sidelines of an international conference.

The summit, which lasted about 30 minutes, comes after government officials and politicians in the two countries resumed exchanges over the past several months.

Abe and Xi were visiting the Indonesian capital to attend a summit meeting of the Asian-African Conference to mark the 60th anniversary of the gathering, known as the Bandung Conference.

Asahi Shimbun (AJW), 22 April 2015
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201504220102

13.

Concern over deepening regional wealth gap as ASEAN leaders meet: Indonesia welcomed leaders from the countries of Asia and Africa as they kicked off a two-day meeting on Wednesday.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo greeted the leaders as they arrived at the Jakarta Convention Centere to attend the opening ceremony of the leaders' summit which is part of the Asian African Conference.

Among the global leaders were ASEAN heads of state. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries are due to become an integrated market by the end of this year, but concerns over the wealth gap persist.

From wealthy Singapore to impoverished Burma, countries in the region are together aiming to form the market body that will eliminate non-tariff barriers and remove obstacles to labor flows in the region of 600 million people.

[News includes 2-minute video clip]

Democratic Voice of Burma, 22 April 2015
http://www.dvb.no/dvb-video/concern-over-deepening-regional-wealth-gap-as-asean-leaders-meet/50115

14.

Asian-African solidarity remains critical 60 years after Bandung: There are different opinions on the Bandung Conference in Indonesia. It generated ideas and practices of decolonization, united by opposition to colonial rule but divided or varied in response to global capitalism among Asian and African countries.

What has become of Asia and Africa today? There is a significant change in the entire landscape in social and economic terms. One of the most visible elements of this new landscape is migrants, especially migrant workers. Millions of people from poor areas in Asia and Africa moved to more prosperous places. In terms of economic development, there is a large gap between and within countries. Parts of China, India and South Korea, and to a certain extent, Indonesia too, have become an integral part of the global capitalist economy, while other parts are struggling for survival. In terms of culture, there is less interaction than there was before. The aim of "renewing the old cultural contacts" between Asian and African countries did not take place.

Some scholars are enthusiastic about the idea of reviving a new Bandung. We need both to rewrite the intellectual history of the Asian-African movement and/or discourse and to redefine the nation-state, both the nation and the state, and the connections between the two, through scholarly studies and political action.

Global Times, 22 April 2015
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/918216.shtml

15.

Jokowi: Future of the World is in Asia and Africa: Jokowi said that Indonesia, as a country with the largest Muslim population and the third largest democracy in the world, is ready to play its role in Asian and African region, especially in promoting peace and welfare. "We are ready to play our global role for world peace and work with all parties to realize that noble goal," Jokowi said.

Jokowi continued that after 60 years of the first Asian African Conference, the world is now facing different challenges and Asian and African countries have the responsibility to overcome those challenges. "We dream of a new world order built upon justice, equality, prosperity," he said. Indonesia also invites Asian and African countries to jointly solve global violence issues, including radicalism that has become the largest regional challenge. "We have to work together to end global violence, radicalism, including ISIS," he said.

Tempo, 22 April 2015
http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2015/04/22/055659851/Jokowi-Future-of-the-World-is-in-Asia-and-Africa

16.

Asian Leaders Urge Different Paths to Prosperity for Poor Nations: The leaders of China, Japan and Indonesia, speaking at a summit of Asian and African nations, all sought to underscore massive changes in the global economic order since an inaugural summit in 1955. It was held in Bandung, Indonesia, amid rapid decolonization and competition between the U.S. and Soviet Union. But while Indonesia and China stressed a need for new economic order to reduce the influence of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and Asian Development Bank, Japan emphasized regional security and said that prosperity could best be achieved through trade deals.

The Asia-Africa gathering has no real organizational power and has served primarily as an occasional touchstone for expressing common interests among developing countries. "But the problem is always that to move the cooperation forward we need to have common perception,'' said Wirya Adiwena, an analyst at the Jakarta-based Habibie Center. "And the speeches did not mention it."

Ben Otto and I Made Sentana
Wall Street Journal, 22 April 2015
http://www.wsj.com/articles/asian-leaders-urge-different-paths-to-prosperity-for-poor-nations-1429717886