Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Bandung Conference, also known as the Asian-African Conference—a major initiative by newly independent countries emerging from colonial rule—has now reached its 70th anniversary.

Exactly 70 years ago, leaders from 29 Asian and African countries, despite facing domestic challenges and political complexities, gathered in Bandung from April 18–24, 1955, for the historic conference.

The initiative gave birth to the 10 points of struggle for world peace and cooperation known as the “Bandung Spirit,” the “Bandung Declaration,” or the “Ten Principles of Bandung” (Dasasila Bandung).

The conference inspired a global wave of resistance against foreign occupation and colonialism. As more independence movements succeeded, a growing number of nations declared sovereignty.

The United Nations (UN) saw its membership nearly double, from 76 sovereign states at the time of the Bandung Conference to 144 by the end of 1975.

This surge in new states reflected the Bandung Conference’s success in fostering global transformation and post-colonial solidarity.

However, 70 years later, global peace remains elusive. Trust among sovereign nations—and in multilateral institutions—is diminishing.

Many countries have resorted to unilateral actions, often disregarding the consequences for smaller nations. Meanwhile, international law continues to be applied unevenly, often to the detriment of weaker states.



Still relevant today

The values of the “Bandung Spirit,” which once guided the post-colonial world through Cold War tensions, remain significant today.

According to Deputy Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir, the “Ten Principles of Bandung” are still relevant to Indonesia’s diplomacy and will continue to guide its push for multilateral reform.

“Indonesia will push for global reform, using the values of the 1955 Dasasila Bandung (as our foundation),” he said, emphasizing Indonesia’s preference for peaceful solutions over confrontation.​​​​​​​

Arrmanatha noted that Indonesia will prioritize reform efforts at the UN and other multilateral institutions over the next five years.

Indonesia’s motivation stems from the sense that the current multilateral system inadequately represents the growing influence and aspirations of the Global South.

Former Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa echoed this sentiment, saying the principles of Dasasila Bandung have "stood the test of time" and should not be altered.

“(Rather than adding to the principles) policymakers should focus on how they are manifested in today’s context,” he emphasized.

He also highlighted the global acceptance of the Bandung Principles, including from countries in Latin America and Africa that gained independence after 1955.

According to Dino Patti Djalal, former deputy foreign minister and current founder of the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI), the Bandung Conference, which gave birth to the Bandung Principles, reflected Indonesia’s “repositioning” effort amid global tensions.

“As the Cold War is escalating, what we have done next? We initiated the Bandung Spirit through the Asian-African Conference in 1955,” Djalal stated, adding that the initiative reflected Indonesia’s commitment to prioritizing diplomatic strategies in addressing global issues.



“Bandung Plus”

Nonetheless, Rajiv Bhatia, an Indian diplomat and Distinguished Fellow at the Gateway House think tank, suggested that today’s world requires a nuanced update—a “Bandung Plus” approach.​​​​​​​

He noted that the Bandung Principles were a product of a bipolar world during the Cold War. In today’s multipolar context, trust in multilateralism is fading, and new strategies are required.

“We need a mixture of bilateral, plurilateral, and multilateral approaches. A pure Bandung-only approach is no longer sufficient,” Bhatia asserted.

Hence, the former ambassador proposed what he termed “Bandung Plus.”

He stated that “Bandung Plus” referred to the renewal of common agendas of developing countries, which must be aware that global issues in the 1950s and 2025 are starkly different.

According to Bhatia, the drafters of the Bandung Principles in 1955 could not have foreseen the major challenges their descendants would face 70 years later.

“Bandung Plus,” he explained, is not a revision of the principles but a call for updating the shared agenda of developing nations, especially given new global challenges like the climate crisis and sovereign debt.

“Let us be practical: Take inspiration from Bandung, but be clear that you must be up to date in 2025 and prepare for the next five to 10 years,” the researcher remarked.

As the Bandung Spirit enters its eighth decade, and global tensions rise, Asian and African countries must carry forward its legacy. The Ten Principles of Bandung must be adapted to contemporary issues and reaffirmed through action—just as Indonesia continues to do in its foreign policy.

Indonesia believes a truly effective multilateral system must be more inclusive, democratic, representative, and just—and that the Bandung Principles can help lead the way toward that vision.



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