Jakarta, 16 April 2025 – Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Indonesia has successfully hosted “Commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the Asian African Conference: The Global South in a Shifting World Order: Challenges, Aspirations, and the Road Ahead” at CSIS Auditorium, Jakarta, on 16 April 2025. The event brought together high-level government officials, ambassadors, scholars, and international affairs experts to reflect on the evolving role of the Global South in a dynamic international landscape and to explore collective aspirations for a more inclusive global order. The seminar was conducted in two sessions, featuring keynote speeches and interactive discussions that offered both historical reflection and forward-looking insights.
Session I: Bandung Principles, World Order and the Imperative for Change
The first session of the seminar focused on reflecting the growing disconnect between the Bandung Principles, such as sovereign equality, peaceful dispute settlement, and respect for justice, and the current realities of a disorderly multipolar world. In his opening remarks, Dr. Yose Rizal Damuri emphasized how the Bandung Conference was a bold declaration of postcolonial agency and liberation, a legacy that remains deeply relevant amid today’s fractured global order. He highlighted how rising protectionism, unilateralism, and the weakening of multilateral institutions are undermining the promises once offered to developing countries through globalization. Against this backdrop, the session underscored the historical importance of Bandung in shaping the Non Aligned Movement and South South cooperation, while addressing the pressing challenges facing the Global South in today’s “polycrisis” era. The discussion emphasized the need for renewed solidarity and cooperation within the Global South, the defense of multilateralism, and the importance of policy coherence, mutual trust, and meaningful reforms in global governance. It set the foundation for exploring how the Bandung Spirit can continue to guide international collaboration in the present day geopolitical context.
Key Highlights:
Dr. Lina Alexandra, Head of the Department of International Relations, CSIS Indonesia, opened the session by reflecting on the growing disconnect between the Bandung Principles and the current realities of a disorderly, multipolar world, underscoring the challenges of maintaining sovereign equality, peaceful dispute resolution, and justice in today’s geopolitics.
H.E. Dr. Rajiv Bhatia, Distinguished Fellow at Gateway House, emphasized the historic significance of the Bandung Conference in shaping post-colonial Asia and Africa, highlighting the challenges the Global South faces in today’s “polycrisis” era, and stressed India’s proactive role in advocating for Global South interests through initiatives like the Voice of Global South Summit.
H.E. Dr. R. M. Marty M. Natalegawa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia (2009-2014), reflected on the transformative spirit of Bandung, noting its bold leadership in creating a "third voice" in global affairs, and called for renewed solidarity within the Global South, urging meaningful reforms in global governance to address the erosion of diplomacy and multilateralism.
Session II: Dasa Sila and the Need for Re-building A Better World Order: The Role of the Global South
The second session explored the continued relevance of the Bandung Principles in addressing today’s global challenges. In his speech, H.E. Dr. Arif Havas Oegroseno, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, emphasized the need to modernize the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) by tackling contemporary issues such as digital sovereignty, climate financing, critical minerals, and intra-regional trade. He underscored the importance of strategic independence, stronger institutional capacity, and effective use of technology and social media to amplify the Global South’s voice. The session further highlighted the urgency of enhancing South-South Cooperation, promoting mutual benefits, and adopting context-sensitive, non-Western approaches. Revitalizing the Bandung Spirit was seen as key to fostering inclusive collaboration and addressing shared concerns, with ASEAN positioned as a crucial bridge in advancing regional and global partnerships.
Key Highlights:
Dr. Shafiah F. Muhibat, Deputy Executive Director for Research, CSIS Indonesia, emphasized the continued relevance of the 10 Bandung Principles, underlining their importance in understanding the Global South's evolving role in the current international landscape.
H.E. Prof. Fekadu Beyene Aleka, Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to Indonesia, highlighted Ethiopia's active participation in regional integration and peacekeeping, stressing that South-South cooperation must be mutually beneficial, with a focus on trade, economic resilience, climate justice, and reforming global governance.
H.E. Macocha Moshe Tembele, Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania to Indonesia, reflected on Tanzania’s historical ties to the Bandung Principles and its leadership in South-South Cooperation, calling for a revitalization of the Bandung Spirit, with a focus on economic cooperation and context-sensitive, non-Western approaches to collaboration.
Ambassador Nguyen Vu Tung, Professor and Senior Advisor at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, discussed the emotional solidarity among former colonized nations, emphasizing the need to revive this spirit between ASEAN and Africa. He highlighted Vietnam's cautious engagement with China and called for multilateral and minilateral cooperation on shared global challenges.
Dr. Cheng Chwee Kuik, Professor of International Relations at the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (IKMAS), National University of Malaysia (UKM), addressed the complexities of defining the Global South and emphasized the active strategy of non-alignment (hedging). He stressed ASEAN’s role in bridging regions and the importance of inclusive diversification and minilateralism in navigating global uncertainties.
Explore the full discussion on YouTube CSIS Indonesia. #NalarAjarTerusanBudi #CSISIndonesia
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