Differences among nations should not be a source of division, but a strength to build a more just, peaceful, and civilized world,Bandung, West Java (ANTARA) -
“Amid an increasingly uncertain world, the Bandung Spirit is becoming more relevant as a moral compass. If we want to build sustainable peace, then we must protect culture,” Zon said at the 71st anniversary of the Asian-African Conference here on Sunday.
According to him, culture must be positioned as a primary instrument of diplomacy to strengthen solidarity and friendship among nations, particularly in Asia and Africa.
He said that in an increasingly borderless world, culture has two important roles, namely as a safeguard to maintain national identity and as a bridge to open international dialogue.
The minister also stressed the importance of protecting culture as part of efforts to build sustainable peace.
“We must ensure that no war erases the history of a nation, no domination silences identity, and no global system ignores the voices of the vulnerable,” he said.
Zon noted that the Asian-African Conference held 71 years ago was a major milestone in global diplomacy.
The forum gave birth to the Bandung Ten Principles, which promote solidarity and cooperation, and became the foundation of the Non-Aligned Movement, while supporting the struggle for independence among colonized nations.
“The spirit of solidarity, equality, and cooperation among nations must continue to be upheld as a moral force in facing an increasingly fragmented world,” he said.
He encouraged strengthening cultural cooperation among Asian and African countries through knowledge exchange, preservation of cultural heritage, and solidarity in addressing global challenges.
“Differences among nations should not be a source of division, but a strength to build a more just, peaceful, and civilized world,” he said.
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Translator: Rubby, Kenzu
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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