African-Asian Summit: after 50 years, still working for a new cooperation
On the 22nd and 23rd of April will be held the African-Asian Summit in Indonesia. It will mark the 50th anniversary of the historical meeting in Bandung in 1955, which spearheaded the Non-Aligned Movement. This historical meeting was to lead to independence for many of the participating countries, and it brought up promises of co-operation between the two continents; after 50 years of failed promises, the next meeting could be an opportunity to revive the relationship and strengthen the ties. The New Asian-African Strategic Partnership is a vehicle to enable the countries of Asia and Africa to cooperate for their mutual benefit and is intended to promote peace, prosperity and progress in the two regions.
Such an evolution would not only represent an economic opportunity, but also a cultural one. It could help bring Africans and Asians closer to each other, as Africans often have an anachronistic view of Asia (dating up to the 1980s) and Asians share worldwide stereotypes about Africa. This renewed co-operation could also have positive repercussions on the diplomatic scene, creating a common alternative to the usual actors and giving a voice to countries missing from this scene, thus achieving the original goal of the Non-Aligned Movement.
www.asianafricansummit2005.org

Summit Africa-Asia: dopo 50 anni, si lavora ancora per una nuova cooperazione>>>