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The logo for the 66th anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference. The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has chosen ‘Humanity and Solidarity’ as the theme for this year’s commemoration. (Handout-Indonesian MoFA) - 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia has chosen ‘Humanity and Solidarity’ as the theme for the 66th anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference this year.

The spirit of humanity and solidarity of Asian and African nations is reflected in the commemorative logo of the 66th anniversary celebrations, with the tightly entwined hands of the number 66 serving to impress the two continents to make efforts towards creating a better world, according to the ministry.

The red color in the logo represents Asia, while the green represents Africa, and the white background represents the rest of the world.The symbolism of the logo is in accordance with the original purpose of the conference, which was to improve solidarity between Asian and African nations by increasing economic and cultural cooperation, as well as efforts to fight all forms of colonialism, imperialism, and racism, the ministry stated.

The Asia-Africa Conference also aims to promote human rights and advance world peace and international cooperation.

The similarity of fate and the spirit of solidarity that inspired the first Asia-Africa Conference 66 years ago have again become relevant now when countries around the world are in the middle of a test to unite in the collective struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic."If we look closely, there are many similarities between the conditions in 1955 and those we are facing today. The gap between developed and developing countries is getting bigger, racial and cultural sentiments continue to fuel conflict, and the major powers are still using their power for their own interests," director of multilateral cooperation at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Febrian A. Ruddyard, told ANTARA.

The current gap between developed and developing countries is evident from the fact that some countries still have unequal access to COVID-19 vaccines. Citing Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Ruddyard said: "Nearly one in four people in high-income countries have been vaccinated, while in low-income countries, only one in 500 have been vaccinated."

Furthermore, given the current global conditions, where people are very interconnected and tend to depend on this interconnectivity, the problem of handling the global pandemic cannot be viewed as a compartmentalized issue in each country. 

The 66th commemoration With the Asia-Africa Conference, which is held on April 18 this year, taking place in the midst of pandemic efforts, it is time for all member countries of the conference to direct themselves to revive the spirit of humanity and solidarity mandated in the Ten Principles of Bandung//ANT