REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANDUNG -- Asian and African countries need to enhance continental cooperation to improve the prosperity of its people, South African Ambassador to Indonesia Pakamisa Augustine Siguba stated here last Tuesday.

Siguba had delivered a speech at the Foreign Policy Study Forum held by the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry in Bandung last Tuesday.

He remarked that the Asia Africa Business Forum can serve as an effective platform for member countries to explore continental cooperation.

"Most of the member countries are developing nations that face the challenge of global capitalism," Siguba pointed out.

The ambassador stated that the countries in Asia and Africa should boost solidarity and cooperation to improve relations.

"The relationship among Asian and African countries had been established since the Bandung Conference 1955. The principle is continued through various cooperation mechanisms that prioritize development," Siguba stated.

The Asian-African Strategic Partnership (NAASP) is one of the Asia-Africa cooperation mechanisms that was initiated during the Asia Africa Summit Conference in 2005 held in Jakarta.

The NAASP is aimed at enhancing political solidarity among Asian and African countries as well as intensifying economic development and deepening socio-cultural cooperation.

Siguba emphasized that the NAASP mechanism should be popularized among the Asian and African countries to increase the understanding of the partnership.

The NAASP is focusing on eight sectors such as mitigations on counterterrorism and transnational crimes, food security, energy security, SMEs, tourism promotion, Asia-Africa University development, and gender equality as well as women empowerment.

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