REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- At least 16 foreign leaders have requested to hold bilateral talks with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on the sidelines of the Asian-African Conference (AAC), a spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

The summit is scheduled to be held in Jakarta on April 22 and 23.

The leaders include heads of states/governments of China, Myanmar, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Iran, Palestine, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Nepal, Jordan, Swaziland, Japan, and Seychelles, the ministry's spokesman, Arrmanatha Nasir, told the press here on Friday.

As the host, Indonesia will provide 12 special rooms at the Jakarta Convention Hall for leaders attending the AAC 2015 to hold bilateral meetings.

President of South Africa Jacob Zuma will arrive on April 21 to pay a state visit and deliver a keynote speech at the Asian-African Business Summit.

In total, 57 delegations from Asian and African nations have confirmed their attendance at the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the AAC, which will be held from April 19 to 24 in Jakarta and Bandung, West Java province.

Of the 10 ASEAN member countries, the Philippines will not be attending the event, while Thailand has not confirmed its participation.

Events marking the AAC will include a senior official meeting on April 19, a ministerial-level meeting on April 20, the Asian-African Business Summit on April 21, and the Asian-African Summit in Jakarta on April 22 and 23.

In addition, heads of states will participate in the historical walk event, which will be held in Bandung on April 24.

The AAC was first organized in Bandung in April 1955, at the initiative of Indonesia, Myanmar (Burma), Ceylon (Sri Lanka), India, and Pakistan.

It was viewed as a symbol of freedom from colonialism, besides being a symbol of the resurgence of Asian and African nations. Some 29 countries representing more than half the world's population had sent their delegates to the conference.

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