CRI听力:Review of First Bandung Conference in Indonesia

Chinese president Xi Jinping is set to participate in the Asian-African Summit in Indonesia, along with activities in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Bandung Conference.

The Bandung Conference in 1955 marks the first multilateral diplomatic approach of People's Republic of China.

CRI's Huang Shan has more details.

The first Bandung Conference took place in 1955 in the Indonesian city of Bandung. Delegations from 29 Asian and African countries participated in the conference.

The attending countries, mostly newly-independent, represented nearly a quarter of the Earth's land surface, with a total population of 1.5 billion.

Addressing the conference, Indonesia's first president, Sukarno, said Bandung means an important transition of world politics after WWII.

"This is the first intercontinental conference of colored peoples in the history of mankind."

The conference aimed to enhance Asian-African economic and cultural cooperation, and, oppose neocolonialism or colonialism by any nation.

During the conference, the countries held different opinions on issues including the interaction between newly-developed countries, the reconstruction of world order, and the relationships with former colonial powers.

As such divergence was progressing into disputes, China's then Premier made his declaration.

Zhou Enlai states that the Chinese delegation has come to the conference "to seek unity, but not to quarrel, to seek common ground, but not to create divergence."

His speech solidified the foundation for reaching consensus and promoting the success of the conference.

The conference adopted a final communique containing ten principles, which underlined respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations and recognition of the equality of all races and nations.

The Bandung Conference also incorporated the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence initiated by leaders of China, India and Myanmar in 1954.

The five Principles include mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.

In comments, Indonesian President Joko Widodo highlights the positive role of the Bandung spirit in the new world pattern.

"Mutual respect and peaceful co-existence is still useful to safeguarding international relations. We hope to remind the public through the Asian-African Conference that the ten principles reached in the conference are the basic foundation of the international relations."

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Bandung Conference.

Various activities are now underway from April 19 to 24 in Jakarta and Bandung.

For CRI, I'm Huang Shan.