Bandung City – Acting Governor of West Java Bey Machmudin said the 2024 Asia Africa Festival (AAF) brought the spirit of peace and unity from Asian African countries for a better world.
AAF 2024 was held in Bandung City on Saturday – Sunday (6 -7/7/2024) with the theme “Culture of Peace & Collaboration”. AAF 2024 was attended by 31 representatives of Asian-African countries, 11 of whom were ambassadors AAF 2024 is a continuation of the commemoration of the Asian-African Conference which was held last April.
According to Bey, the theme raised in AAF 2024 is in line with the spirit of the Ten Principles of Bandung at the 1955 Asian-African Conference, which became a turning point for the togetherness of countries in the Asian and African regions.
Historically, Bey said, the conference was motivated by the colonization experienced by countries in Asia and Africa. “So this reminds us that we are in a culture, in a different culture, but in the direction of a good future,” Bey explained, Sunday (6/7/2024).
Bey also appreciated the Bandung City Government for organizing the commemoration of the 69th Asian-African Conference with the Asia Africa Festival 2024 event.
The 31 delegates include Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, South Africa, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Jordan, Kuwait, Sri Lanka, Yemen, Mozambique, India, Japan, Pakistan, Algeria, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Philippines, Iran, Sudan, Tanzania, Iraq, and other Asian-African countries. AAF 2024 is also supported by six ambassadors to Indonesia.
AAF 2024 was filled with various activities, including coffee morning and citywalk. Furthermore, the route of the cultural carnival route for AFF 2024 participants starts from in front of the Savoy Homann Hotel, to the end of Jalan Cikapundung Barat. Meanwhile, short Braga Street which is the Braga Beken area is also closed for a series of other Asia Africa Festival activities.
Although the commemoration of Asia Africa is usually commemorated every April 18, the 2024 AAF can only be held because it coincides with the moment of the 2024 General Election (Pemilu) democratic party at the beginning of the year.
Bey also said that this year’s Asia Africa event was a warm-up step ahead of the 70th anniversary of the Asian-African Conference in 2025. He revealed that the public was quite enthusiastic about this event. “I think even though it is jammed, people enjoy it with a kind of carnival,” he said.
Not just remembering, there is homework that must be completed AAC
Acting Mayor of Bandung Bambang Tirtoyuliono emphasized that the 2024 AAF is not just about remembering history. But the most important thing is how to welcome the future of Asian-African countries.
“We conveyed several things (during the coffee morning), that Bandung, among others, has profiled achievements. Many things, many sectors such as education, infrastructure,” Bambang said.
Meanwhile, Director General of Information and Public Diplomacy of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Siti Nugraha Maulidiah said she was happy to attend this year’s Asia Africa Festival. Siti said she had time to ride the Bandros bus around Bandung with the ambassadors. She admitted that the spirit of the 1955 KAA with the Bandung Tenets is still very relevant to current issues.
But in the midst of the excitement, Siti reminded that there is still homework that must be completed by KAA member countries. “We also still have homework,” she said.
The homework, Siti said, is to support Palestinian independence from colonization and genocide that is clearly visible but until now there has been no solution. “All Asian-African countries agree to support Palestine. Indonesia is at the forefront in terms of voicing Palestinian independence,” she said. (MC West Java Province/InfoPublik)
