Officials and experts discuss the Ten Bandung Principles at an event to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference on April 16th, 2025. (Photo: VOV)

Dr. Djalal made the statement at an event to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference. The event was organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Jakarta, Indonesia.

According to diplomats and international scholars at the event, the Ten Bandung Principles refer to the Conference’s core principles of self-determination, mutual respect for sovereignty, non-aggression, and non-intervention. These principles, also known as the Bandung Spirit, laid the foundation for major political shifts globally and paved the way for the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) in support of South-South cooperation over the past decades.

They capture the Conference’s spirit of "live and let live" and global engagement based on equality and interdependence. "In the context of the current international world, we need to remember the Bandung Ten Principles and apply as well as revive them in the international system," as they align with the United Nations Charter, Dr. Djalal said.

Also at the event was former Foreign Minister of Indonesia, Dr. Marty Natalegawa, who said, "Aside from the miracle changes the NAM brought member states, that Bandung helped unleashed, we saw new ideas on how we can deal with problems or challenges of geopolitical opposition. Prior to Bandung, we were led to believe that we have to choose sides. You're either the East or the West. But essentially, for countries like ours, of the Global South, we simply follow. This is what Bandung rebelled against. We say we have alternatives, we have choices. And as a result of Bandung, we have the non-aligned movement soon after."