C. Visit to the Museum of
Afro-Asian Conference in Bandung, West Java
On the last day of the consultative meeting, the participants were invited
to visit the Museum of Afro-Asian Conference in Bandung, West Java. The
intention was to recall the spirit of Afro-Asian solidarity to fight for
freedom. The museum is actually the old building which had
been the venue for the Afro-Asian Conference conducted on 18 – 24 April
1955. It is located in the heart of Bandung downtown, the capital city of
the West Java province. The participants attentively watch the historical
documentations, such as photographs, documentary film, conference venue,
diorama, even the original equipments used during the conference (camera,
chairs, etc). The Afro-Asian Conference is a very important event
in the history of the Republic of Indonesia, particularly in foreign
affairs and international relation. This great initiative was taken by the
Republic of Indonesia as a free and young sovereign nation. Nevertheless,
the conference which was participated by representatives of countries
covering two continents and which brought together the majority of world
population has evidently left its impact lasting up to the establishment
of the non-aligned movement. The conference succeeded in formulating the
principles of international relation which has become the rules of
political conduct and international relation for developing countries in
general and the non-aligned in particular. These principles are known as
the ‘Ten Principles of Bandung’ (or ‘Dasa Sila Bandung’). Following the visit to the historical Museum of
Afro-Asian Conference, the participants were also invited to enjoy the
traditional Sundanese dance at the Afro-Asian Cultural Centre and Cultural
Performance which is located at the building next to the Museum.
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