Bandung Asia-Africa Conference 60th Anniversary

The posters of two world figures Soekarno and Nelson Mandela have been put up around the Merdeka Building on Jalan Asia-Africa, Bandung, to mark the 60th anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference (AAC), on April 24.

The posters of the founding fathers of Indonesia and South Africa respectively were displayed side-by-side along the main thoroughfare, which will be the center of the commemorative activities on Wednesday.

The poster of the first Indonesian president Soekarno, with a red background, carries the words "New Asia-Africa is Born" while that of Nelson Mandela, with a green background, carries the words "Nothing is Impossible."

The messages, which were statements from the two world leaders, had a major impact on the foreign policies of the Asian-African countries during that time.

The late Nelson Mandela attended the 50th AAC anniversary event in 2005 and was the main figure in the event. He was accompanied by then president Bambang Yudhoyono and took the opportunity to plant a sapling in the Asia-Africa garden at the Tegalega area in the city of Bandung, which is the capital of West Java province.

The Merdeka Building was the venue of the AAC in 1955, during which the leaders declared "The Ten Principles of Bandung."

The building and its surrounding area is being prepared and decorated to welcome state guests and participants of the AAC anniversary event. (Antara)