Museum of the Asian-African Conference

The Museum of the Asian - African Conference is located in Bandung City, West of Java, Indonesia. It was built to serve as a source of inspiration and motivation for the Asian - African Nations.

I can say that today's generation is really fortunate to live a life that our forefathers had visualized and fought for. Great leaders from different nations has passionately worked hard to keep the peace and love among nations.

The Directorate General of Information and Public Diplomacy Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Indonesia explains the historical background of the Asian - African Conference with the following:

 The Asian-African Conference held in Bandung on  18 - 24 April 1955 became a very important event in the history of Indonesian foreign policy and a great occasion for the nation and the Government of Indonesia. It is so, since the conference was held only ten years after Indonesians has their courage to propose as the host for such important international conference. The most important thing was that the conference ended successfully in formulating common concerns and in preparing operational guidance for cooperation among Asian-African nations, as well as in creating world order and world peace. The conference resulted the Dasadila Bandung, which became the guideline for the colonized countries in fighting for their independence. It also became the fundamental principles in promoting world peace and international cooperattion. 

In fact, the spirit of the Asian-African Conference becomes guidance and basic motivation, not only for Indonesian countries but also for Asian-African Countries. It also enhances the cooperation among Asian-African nations, so that it makes their roles and influences in international cooperation become more active and more respected and create awareness to motivate young generation of Indonesia and Asian African nations to play better roles and to gain higher prestige.

In order to achieve the above mentioned, it is important if the Asian-African Conference with its event was maintained eternally in a museum where the conference was held, Gedung Merdeka, Banduing, a city that is considered as a capital city and a source of inspiration for the Asian - African nations and a capital city of West Java.

The Museum of the Asian - African Conference held on April 1955  was purposely  to stop colonization, apartheid, racial discrimination and to support many countries who were still fighting for their independence 10 years after the world war II.

The following are the 10 Principles of the Bandung Conference (excerpted from the The Directorate General of Information and Public Diplomacy Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Indonesia:

1.  Respect for fundamental rights and for the purposes and principles of the Charted of the United nations;

2. Respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations;

3. Recognition the equality of all races and the equality of all nations, large and small;

4. Abstention from intervention or interference in the internal affairs of another country;

5. Respect for the right of each nation to defend itself singly or collectively, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations.

6. a) Abstention from the use of arrangement of collective defense to serve any particular interests of the big  powers.

b) Abstention by any country from exerting, pressures on other countries.

7. Refraining from acts or threats of aggression or the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any country.

8. Settlement of all international disputes by peaceful means, such as negotiation, conciliation, arbitration or judicial settlement, as well as other peaceful means of the parties' own choice, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations.

9. Promotion for mutual interest and cooperation.

10. Respect for justice and international obligations.