Jubilee of the Bandung Conference remembered
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-04-24 14:58

Leaders of 43 Asian and African countries began the commemoration of the golden jubilee of the Bandung Conference with historic walks from Savoy Homann Hotel to Merdeka Building here on Sunday.

Chinese President Hu Jintao is among the leaders present.

Bandung, the city of flower, is Indonesia's fourth largest city, with pleasant climate and lush surroundings.

In 1955, 29 Asian-African countries gathered here to discuss independence, peace and economic prosperity.

Asian-African leaders of new generation came to the place Sunday to commemorate the golden jubilee of the conference.

The leaders walked in several rows to the Merdeka Building and took part in a brief rite there. They were greeted by young Indonesians in national costumes lining both sides of the street and singing and dancing.

Security is tight with police and military officers blocking the way heading to the historic Merdeka Building in the West Java capital, some 150 km south of Jakarta.

The commemoration is being held after a two-day summit in Jakarta that adopted the joint declaration on the New Asia-Africa Strategic Partnership and leaders' statement on tsunami, earthquake and other natural disasters.

Welcoming speeches were given by leaders from Indonesia, the host; Nigeria, representing African countries; India, representing Asian countries; and Trinidad and Tobago, representing non-Asian- African countries.

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