Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Culture commemorated the 71st anniversary of the Asian-African Conference under the theme “Bandung Spirit: Culture as a Bridge to World Peace,” highlighting efforts to revive the spirit of the Ten Bandung Principles in today’s global context.In a statement issued on Sunday (April 19), Culture Minister Fadli Zon said the commemoration underscored the role of culture as a means of fostering world peace.He noted that the world is currently experiencing a period of uncertainty and declining trust among nations, marked by escalating conflicts and geopolitical rivalries.”If we want to build sustainable peace, we must protect culture. No war should erase a nation's history or silence its identity,” the minister said.He added that Indonesia, under President Prabowo Subianto, remains committed to non-alignment, strengthening global cooperation, and upholding the principles of the United Nations Charter.The event also featured a cultural dialogue attended by Egyptian Ambassador to Indonesia Yasser Hassan Farag Elshemy, member of Commission X of the House of Representatives Ledia Hanifa, and international relations academic Anton Aliabbas.On the same occasion, Bandung Mayor Muhammad Farhan proposed that the area stretching from Simpang Lima to Jalan Asia Afrika be designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site to preserve the city’s historical identity.The commemoration also included the launch of the book Konferensi Asia Afrika dalam Gambar (The Asian-African Conference in Pictures), which presents visual documentation of the conference, along with a photo exhibition and curated historical narratives.Diplomatic representatives from several countries that participated in the 1955 Asian-African Conference were also present, including Sudan, Cambodia, Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, and Timor-Leste.The Ministry of Culture emphasized that the commemoration will continue to serve as a platform for cultural diplomacy, promoting international cooperation, facilitating knowledge exchange, and preserving cultural heritage in support of global peace.