Chinese President Hu Jintao said Friday that the Asian-African countries should vigorously carry forward the Bandung Spirit, seize the historic opportunity and strengthen solidarity and cooperation so as to bring about a new type of Asian-African strategic partnership.

He made the call while delivering a speech at the Asian-African Summit which kicked off at the Jakarta Convention Center on Friday.

Leaders and representatives from more than 100 countries and international organizations were attending the two-day summit. It is the first summit between leaders of the Asian-African continents since the 1955 Asian-African Conference, held in Bandung, Indonesia.

The theme of the Summit, "Reinvigorating the Bandung Spirit: Working Towards a New Asian-African Strategic Partnership," shall mark the dawn of a new era of cooperation among countries of the two regions towards a peaceful and prosperous future.

The summit was co-hosted by Indonesia and South Africa. At the opening ceremony, all the participants first stood in silence, mourning for the horrific devastation of the Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami in Indian Ocean.

Then, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, South African President Thabo Mbeki and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan delivered their opening speeches at the summit.

Chinese President Hu Jintao also delivered a speech entitled "From the Glorious Past to a Bright Future: Building a New Type of Strategic Partnership Between Asia and Africa."

In his speech, Hu said: "The Bandung Conference 50 years ago was a monumental landmark in the national liberation movements that swept across Asia and Africa, and a pioneering undertaking in the history of international relations."

Through their unremitting efforts over the past 50 years, many countries in Asia and Africa have achieved remarkable social and economic development and conducted fruitful regional cooperation, he added.

"With dialogue and coordination gaining greater prominence in their relations, the international standing and roles of Asian and African countries in world affairs have been noticeably enhanced," the Chinese president said.

In today's world, Hu said, peace, development and cooperation have become the trend of the times. The developing countries are faced with a host of difficulties and problems in their efforts to achieve economic and social development.

"Our common mission and common responsibility require that we vigorously carry forward the Bandung Spirit, seize the historic opportunity and strengthen solidarity and cooperation so as to bring about a new type of Asian-African strategic partnership," the Chinese president noted.

The Chinese president arrived here Thursday to attend the Asian-African Summit and the Golden Jubilee Commemoration of the Asian-African Conference 1955 in Bandung. He will also pay a state visit to Indonesia.

Source: Xinhua