Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Bandung Conference or the Asian-African Conference, which gave birth to the “Bandung Principles” or “Bandung Declaration” or “Bandung Spirit”, took place this week 71 years ago.Held in Bandung, West Java, from April 18–24, 1955, the conference brought together nations united by the aspiration to engage in relations on an equal and independent footing, and to free the world from domination by superpowers.The noble goals were summarized in the Bandung Principles, calling countries to respect each other’s sovereignty, reject oppression by one country of another, and advance mutual interest for common wealth and peace.The 10 tenets of the Bandung Principles are: 1. Respect for fundamental human rights and for the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. 2. Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations. 3. Recognition of the equality of all races and of the equality of all nations large and small. 4. Abstention from intervention or interference in the internal affairs of another country. 5. Respect for the right of each nation to defend itself, singly or collectively, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations. 6. (a) Abstention from the use of arrangements of collective defense to serve any particular interests of the big powers; (b) Abstention by any country from exerting pressure on other countries. 7. Refraining from acts or threats of aggression or the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any country. 8. Settlement of all international disputes by peaceful means, such as negotiation, conciliation, arbitration, or judicial settlement as well as other peaceful means of the parties' own choice, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations. 9. Promotion of mutual interests and cooperation. 10. Respect for justice and international obligations.Fast forward to this year, when the breakdown of global commitment to international laws and order is accelerating, the Bandung Spirit, now at 71, must be promoted by all peace-loving countries.However, the Bandung Principles are more than words on paper—they demand active defense by all nations that claim to uphold them, especially Indonesia, the country that hosted the city where these ideals were born.Indonesia must leadAs the home of Asian-African solidarity, Indonesia bears a huge responsibility to ensure the “flame” lit in Bandung 71 years ago continues to enlighten and give hope amid the gloom that overcasts the world.Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry, through its spokesperson Vahd Nabyl A. Mulachela, reiterated its commitment to advancing the values of the Bandung Principles as the spirit that binds the developing world together.“We always defend Bandung Principles, not only ceremonially, but also in missions and messages that we promote,” Mulachela said.Indonesia will advance the Bandung Spirit and issues relevant to it, especially world peace, as it believes that the vision can provide a solution to global conflicts, he stated.Meanwhile, an international relations expert from the University of Indonesia, Emir Chairullah, agreed that Indonesia has a huge potential to restore the spirit of solidarity among the developing world with the principles.However, he said, the step will be possible only if Indonesia can ensure balanced diplomacy to all nations.Chairullah said that as Indonesia's engagement with major countries is part of its diplomacy strategy, Jakarta must not neglect efforts to strengthen Asian-African solidarity in line with the Bandung Spirit.The sentiment was shared by Teuku Rezasyah, an international relations expert from Padjadjaran University, who viewed the Bandung Spirit as helping developing countries to respond to common challenges and bring their positions together to the global level.However, after the Bandung Conference, there has yet to be a leader from Asia, Africa, or Latin America with the international charisma to unite cross-regional development ideals and move them forward together, he said.The academic argued that, with his intensive “diplomatic blitz,” Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has the potential to become a leading figure in advancing solidarity among developing countries. “President Prabowo Subianto’s roles in international forums enable him to gradually serve as the unifying leader for Asian, African, and Latin American solidarity,” Rezasyah remarked.Bandung Conference 2.0Amid the escalation of global geopolitical conflicts, many parties have called not only for a return to the Bandung Principles but also for organizing another Asian-African Conference.As conveyed by former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, the second iteration of the historic Asian-African Conference is increasingly urgent to seek new solutions for modern geopolitical tensions and the pursuit of world peace.Megawati warned that the threats of neocolonialism and neoimperialism are re-emerging in new manifestations, different from what the generations of 1955 saw. She expressed optimism that a second conference would empower independent nations to preserve their sovereignty against external pressures.Concurring with Megawati, Teuku Rezasyah also said that another Bandung Conference must be organized.He said that a second conference, in addition to deliberating on ways to ensure the Bandung Principles continue to guide the world, should also serve as a platform for reflection on global developments over the past seven decades.The conference’s “sequel” should be organized to “critically evaluate the achievements of participating countries and Asian-African institutions, with the Bandung Principles as the guiding reference,” Rezasyah said.As geopolitical conflicts are escalating and straining international solidarity, returning to the Bandung Principles becomes the primary way to restore world peace and friendship among nations.Moreover, the Bandung Principles were accepted by the global community as the reference for ideal international relations as envisioned by earlier generations.As one of the key representatives of the developing world and the host of the Asian-African Conference, Indonesia carries a significant mandate to promote the Bandung Spirit and help unify the vision of countries across the Global South.Indonesia must not allow the flame of the Bandung Principles to fade. It should take the lead in ensuring that these principles continue to be respected as a compass guiding the world toward peace and harmony.