71st Asian-African Conference anniversary highlights Palestinian issue


Bandung City, W Java (ANTARA) – The 2026 Asian-African Conference (AAC) commemoration in Bandung City, West Java, marking the 71st anniversary of the historical event, held a special session highlighting the Palestinian issue.

The event was attended by Indonesian Environment Minister Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat as well as delegates from 26 nations, including a number of ambassadors, state officials, and college students.

“We hope the commemoration of Asian-African Conference will continue to be an annual agenda, so that the world can better understand the importance of this historic event,” Iskandar Zulkarnain, secretary of Bandung City government, said in Bandung, West Java, on Saturday.

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The presence of the international delegation not only strengthened friendly relations between countries, Zulkarnain added, but also had a positive impact on the tourism sector and the economy of Bandung City.

This year’s event features a number of new activities, such as talk shows, exhibitions, and special sessions addressing the issue of Palestine.

On the second day of the event, the organising committee had scheduled a special forum featuring a Palestinian representative who would deliver a speech before the students and ambassadors.

The commemoration served as a platform to promote the values of independence, peace, and solidarity that have become the spirit of the Asian-African Conference since it was first held in 1955.

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Zulkarnain emphasised the values born in the 1955 conference remain highly relevant today and should continue to be shared with the younger generation and broader international community.

Further, the Bandung City Government continues to push for international recognition of the Merdeka Building, where the conference first held at, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

“We hope Merdeka Building can be officially designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, as it holds immense historical value in the journey of international diplomacy,” Zulkarnain remarked.

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Translator: Rubby Primananda, Uyu Liman
Editor: Fransiska Ninditya
Copyright © ANTARA 2026



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