REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Some 30 heads of state and government have confirmed their participation in the 60th commemoration of the Asia-Africa Conference (AAC) to be held in Jakarta and Bandung (West Java), on April 19-24, 2015.
"Over 30 heads of state and government have confirmed, and we are convinced that the number will increase as the date of the AAC implementation is approaching," the foreign ministry's Director of Cooperation for Inter-regional cooperation for Asia, the Pacific, and Africa Benjamin Scott Karnadi stated here, Thursday (2/4).
Several delegates of Asian and African countries have been enthusiastic to attend the AAC to share their experiences on the progress they have achieved, he noted.
The leaders, who have confirmed their participation, include those from Swaziland, Vietnam, China, Sri Lanka, Iran, Mozambique, Cambodia, Singapore, and North Korea.
Three leaders of the 10 ASEAN member countries are yet to confirm their attendance.
Some 109 Asian and African countries along with 17 observer countries and 25 international organizations have been invited.
The agenda of the 60th commemorative event of the AAC will include a Senior Official Meeting of Asian and African countries to be held on April 19; a Ministerial Level Meeting on April 20; and the Asia-Africa Business Summit on April 21 and 22.
The Asia-Africa Summit will be organized on April 22-23, 2015, in Jakarta.
On April 24, the leaders are expected to join a Historical Walk to be held in Bandung, where the first AAC was organized in April 1955.
The Bandung conference was viewed as a symbol of freedom from colonialism, besides being a symbol of resurgence of Asian and African nations. Some 29 countries representing more than half of the world's population had sent their delegates to the conference, 60 years ago.