On 10 April, Ambassador Xie Feng was invited to attend and address the public forum in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Bandung Conference in Jakarta. Over 400 people from Indonesian government, business, media and academia as well as foreign diplomats in Indonesia were present, including the Indonesian Foreign Ministry's director general for Asia-Pacific and African Affairs Yuri Thamrin, Ambassador of India to Indonesia Gurjit Singh, Ambassador of South Africa to Indonesia Augustine Sifuba and senior advisor to former Indonesian Vice President Dewi Fortuna Anwar.

In his speech, Ambassador Xie said that the Bandung Spirits advocated by the Asian-African Conference is a boost to the liberation of Asian and African nations, a catalyst to the Non-Aligned Movement and an incubator of a new type of international relations. Faced with new international political and economic situation, the Bandung Spirit is not out of date. Rather, it remains vibrant over time as an important guideline for international relations. 60 years ago, the Bandung Spirit was about peaceful co-existence and seeking common ground while reserving differences. Today, win-win cooperation and common development are the shared aspiration of our time. Asian and African countries should keep pace with this overriding trend and give new meaning to the Bandung Spirit.

Ambassador Xie said that the Asian-African Conference was also a milestone in China's diplomacy. The Chinese delegation led by Premier Zhou Enlai showed commitment to principles and flexibilities, and extensively engaged Asian and African delegations at the Bandung conference. Together, we created the Bandung Spirit, promoted Asian-African solidarity and cooperation, and made major contribution to the success of the conference. Over the past 60 years, China has always been a supporter, practitioner and leader of Asian-African cooperation. China has strengthened dialogue and cooperation with Asian and African counties at bilateral and regional levels. Our trade and investment ties have further deepened. China has contributed enormously to poverty reduction, education and development of Asian and African countries through assistance, training, tariff concession and debt relief.

Ambassador Xie said that this year marks the 65th anniversary of China-Indonesia diplomatic relations. The past 65 years saw a historic progress of China-Indonesia relations. China and Indonesia are good friends, good neighbors and good partners and we have been increasingly important to each other. Last month, President Jokowi paid a successful state visit to China. He and Chinese leaders reached important consensus on pushing forward our comprehensive strategic partnership. Meanwhile, President Xi will come to Indonesia to attend the Asian-African Summit and the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Bandung Conference, which will be his second time in Indonesia within one and a half years. China-Indonesia relations are stronger than any time in history and face historic opportunities for further growth. China is ready to work with Indonesia, taking the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties and the 60th anniversary of the Bangdung Conference as an opportunity, to coordinate development strategies, promote pragmatic cooperation, move forward with our comprehensive strategic partnership, and make our partnerships models for Asian-African cooperation in the new era.

Ambassador Xie said that on 24 April in Bandung, Asian and African leaders will join a 'historic walk' toward the venue of the 1955 Bandung Conference. This is not only a tribute to the Bandung Spirit, but also a promise for the Asian-African cooperation in the new era. China stands ready to work with Asian and African countries including Indonesia, to uphold the Bandung Spirit and steer Asian-African cooperation toward a brighter and win-win future.

Mr Yuri Thamrin, director general for Asia-Pacific and African Affairs of Indonesian Foreign Ministry, said that Indonesia as the initiator and host of the 1955 Asian-African Conference, attaches great importance to enhancing solidarity and self-reliance of the Asian and African countries, and supporting ASEAN and organizations like African Union to strengthen dialogue and cooperation at regional level. The Asian-African Conference historically changed the destiny of Asian and African countries. Asia and Africa today have respectively become 'the engine of growth' and 'the continent of hope'. Asian and African countries should work together to enhance each other's development capacity, jointly cope with the challenge and benefit the two peoples. Ambassadors of other countries to Indonesia including India also addressed the forum.