CO-CHAIRS’ STATEMENT
ASIAN-AFRICAN SUBREGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS CONFERENCE
BANDUNG, INDONESIA, 29-30 JULY 2003
 

 
Introduction

1.         We, the Foreign Ministers of the Republic of Indonesia and the Republic of South Africa, had the honor to co-chair the first Asian-African Sub-Regional Organizations Conference (AASROC) in Bandung from 29 to 30 July 2003. The Conference was attended by delegates from 36 countries and 22 sub-regional international organizations.

2.       The aim of the Conference was to consider issues of common interest and concern as well as to strengthen cooperation between the two continents. Through a number of discussions, the conference considered ways and means by which the people of the two continents could achieve full economic, cultural, social, and political cooperation and address global challenges facing both continents.

3. The Conference reiterated the spirit of the Bandung Asian-African Conference of 1955, and argued that it remains a solid basis for closer cooperation between the two continents. The Bandung spirit, the core principles of which are solidarity, friendship and cooperation, continues to be a relevant and effective foundation for resolving global issues of common concern and fostering better relations among nations.

4.         The Conference noted that since the 1955 Conference, Asian and African countries have made significant political advances, but have not yet attained commensurate progress in the social and economic spheres. Therefore, many areas of cooperation need to be further strengthened and AASROC can play a role in complementing various initiatives/mechanisms and promoting accelerated growth and prosperity in both Asia and Africa. The Conference recognized the need to keep pace with global developments.

5.         In this regard, the Conference noted that the African Union has adopted the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) as its program for poverty eradication, socio-economic development and growth. The African regional economic communities, among others, have a critical role to play in the implementation of the NEPAD program. The Conference further noted the UN resolution of November 2002 that formally accepted NEPAD as the framework of engagement with Africa and committed the international communities and the United Nations to support the implementation of NEPAD.

Current Global Situation

6.         The Conference noted with concern that, despite the opportunities offered by globalization, countries in Asia and Africa continue to be marginalized. There is therefore a need to actively pursue a common view and collective action to ensure the equitable sharing of the benefits of globalization. In this regard, the Conference stressed that trade liberalization, including in the current negotiations in the WTO, should directly address the development needs and objectives of developing countries.

7.         The Conference also noted that international targets and goals emanating from international conferences and summit, inter alia the Millennium Development Goals, the Monterrey Consensus and Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, have yet to be achieved. There is therefore, an urgency to further promote an enabling international environment and to bolster cooperation between the Asia and Africa regions, which have been left behind in many ways and where a need exists for concerted and pragmatic approaches to ensure those international goals in the interests of Asia and Africa are met.
 
8.         The Conference expressed concern over current unilateral trends which undermine the role of multilateralism. The Conference emphasized the importance of multilateral approach in international relations and the need for countries to strictly abide by the principles of international law, in particular the Charter of the United Nations. In this regard, the United Nations continues to play the central and vital role in the maintenance of peace and security and the strengthening of international cooperation. The Conference reiterated the need for Asia and Africa to support and strengthen multilateralism in order to ensure that multilateral efforts to address global issues prevail. The Conference noted the important role of regional and sub-regional organizations as building blocs for further strengthening multilateral efforts.
 
A New Strategic Partnership
 
 9.         The Conference noted the current global situation and the prevailing conditions in Asia and Africa and stressed the importance of AASROC in bridging the divide between the two continents. The Conference also explored ways and means to strengthen cooperation between the two continents. The Conference further supported the idea of establishing a New Strategic Partnership and agreed to continue work in this regard. This New Strategic Partnership is intended to promote peace, prosperity and progress in the two continents.
 
10.        The Conference underlined that this New Strategic Partnership should build on existing initiatives rather than duplicate programs and agendas in the two regions as well as the existing framework of cooperation among developing countries. In this regard, the new partnership can play a meaningful role in supporting the implementation of NEPAD, the Tokyo International Conference on Africa's Development (TICAD), the Sino-Africa process, the India-NEPAD Fund, as well as other initiatives.

11.        The Conference stressed the need to prioritize cooperation in areas that would bring the regions closer, in order to ensure the sustainability of the New Strategic Partnership. In this regard, the Conference underlined the need to utilize the comparative advantages and commonalities among countries in both regions. The Conference underscored the importance of an exchange of experiences and best practices among countries and sub-regional/regional organizations in the two regions. The Conference also noted the importance of engaging other countries and organizations, with the view to adding value to the New Strategic Partnership.
 
12.        The Conference explored ideas for future direction to ensure that the idea of a New Strategic Partnership be built on an incremental and sound basis. These included ways and means to promote Asia-Africa dialogue and partnership, areas of cooperation, institutional arrangements; a timetable for various activities before and beyond the Asian - African Summit in 2005, and a mechanism for generating consensus and the ownership of the process as well as the resources.
 
13.        The Conference, in the effort to establish links between the two continents, emphasized both the collective responsibilities and the important role of sub-regional organizations in exploring and implementing concrete steps to propel growth and development. The Conference noted that sub-regional organizations. have extensive experience in different areas, and can compare best practices across the regions. Concerted effort to work together will ensure the best success for both continents. In this regard, increased synergy and cooperation among sub-regional organizations in Asia and Africa would contribute to peace and prosperity in both regions.

14.        The Conference discussed principles on which to develop a New Strategic Partnership, inter alia:
a.       The Ten Principles of Bandung of the 1955 Asian-African Conference.
b.       Recognition of diversity between and within the regions, including different social and economic systems and levels of development. 
c.       Commitment to open dialogue, based on mutual respect and benefit.
d.       Cooperation where there is scope for common interest and mutual benefit.
e.       Efforts to strengthen complement and build upon existing regional and sub-regional organization's initiatives in both regions.
f.         Cooperation should be practical and based on comparative advantage and mutual strength.
 
15.        The Conference embarked on an effort to identify obstacles that hamper cooperation between the two regions, and also explored best practices and experiences that could foster closer cooperation. The Conference identified a number of steps that would lead to a New Strategic Partnership:
a.       Identifying existing difficulties and challenges that are facing Asian and African regions and identifying viable areas of cooperation and specific projects to address those challenges.
b.       Exploring innovative schemes and approaches to strengthen development cooperation between Asia and Africa.
c.       Increasing regular interaction between the two regions by, among others, creating networks and focal points to exchange experiences and best-practices.
d.       Harmonizing policies to support closer collaboration.
e.       Jointly mobilizing resources and capacities to support efforts for closer cooperation.
f.         Establishing and strengthening regular mechanisms for training, consultation, communication and sharing of information, experience and expertise among regions and sub-regions, as well as identifying and implementing of joint concrete projects and activities.
 
16.        The Conference discussed areas of cooperation and issues of strategic importance, which are of interest to both regions and might constitute elements of a New Strategic Partnership, inter alia:
a.       Promoting human resources development through training and capacity building programs.
b.       Strengthening and reinvigorating regional commitments to multilateralism including reform of the multilateral institutions.
c.       Strengthening the multilateral trading system, to ensure that Asia and Africa benefit.
d.       Enhancing the role of international institutions, including sub-regional organizations and donor communities, to support Asia-Africa development.
e.       Strengthening South - South Cooperation.
f.         Strengthening efforts to achieve development goals, including promotion of sustainable development, financing for development, debt relief and management, poverty alleviation, HIV/AIDS and other major diseases that afflict humanity.
g.       Increasing cooperation on trade, industry, investment and finance in order to bolster intra-regional trade and investment including the possibility of creating a Free Trade Arrangements/Preferential Trading Arrangements.
h.       Enhancing cooperation in selected areas, among others, agriculture, human resources development, infrastructure development, transportation as well as information and communication technology.         
i.         Fostering a policy dialogue on collective security and conflict resolutions including peace making, peacekeeping, and post conflict peace building.
j.         Establishing a policy dialogue on trans-boundary issues including health, environment, transnational crimes, and terrorism.
k.       Establishing a policy dialogue on human rights, good governance and democracy.
l.         Promoting participation of civil society and the business sector, particularly small, micro and medium-sized enterprises.
 
The Way Forward

17.        The Conference agreed to establish a working group led by the Co-Chairs, whose membership consists of interested countries and regional/sub-regional organizations of both continents. The working group would be tasked to develop a program of work with specific time frames, which includes modalities, operational approaches and formats for cooperation to ensure the realization of the New Strategic Partnership, taking into account the outcome of AASROC I. The result of the group's works will be reported at the second AASROC meeting in South Africa in 2004.

18.        The Conference, in the effort to facilitate the establishment of a New Strategic Partnership, recommended strengthening the mechanisms for consultations between sub-regional organizations in Asia and Africa by suggesting the establishment of focal points within the respective secretariats of regional and sub-regional organizations. The conference also noted the need to enhance exchange of information and best practices among regional/sub regional organizations.
 
19.        The Conference agreed on the need to sensitize the public on the initiative to establish a New Strategic Partnership between Asia and Africa in order to gain wider support and participation from all stakeholders.
 
20.        The Conference agreed to convene AASROC II in South Africa in 2004. The Conference also agreed that the New Strategic Partnership be launched during the Asian - African Summit which will be held in conjunction with the Commemoration of the Golden Jubilee of the Asian-African Conference in Bandung, Indonesia in 2005.
 
21. The Conference declared its collective appreciation for the very warm hospitality, excellent facilities and leadership provided for the meeting by the Government and people of the Republic of Indonesia.