Indonesia To Invite 109 World Leaders To 60TH AA Conference

Bandung, W Java, Jan 28 (Antara) - The Foreign Affairs Ministry has planned to invite 109 world leaders to the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Asia-Africa (AA) Conference in Bandung, West Java, in April 2015. "We will invite 109 heads of states and 25 representatives of international organizations. We also hope to invite the UN Secretary-General," Y Kristiarto S Legowo, the ministry's secretary general, said here Tuesday. A few invitations have already been sent by Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, according to him. Minister Marsudi, who is currently in Malaysia for the African Union Conference, will personally present invitations for the AA Conference's commemoration event to African nation leaders attending the meeting in Malaysia. "The Indonesian government will later send a special envoy to present the invitations to heads of state in Asian and African countries," he added. The Indonesian government has been making preparations for the 60th anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference, which will be celebrated in Jakarta and Bandung from April 19 to 24, 2015. "We have started making preparations after the President issued directives for the event during a cabinet meeting," acting director of the Intra Asia-Pacific and Africa Cooperation of the Foreign Ministry Ferdy Piay stated recently. Piay added that the ministry had been coordinating with interested parties for making preparations for the commemoration of the Asia-Africa Conference. The event will be held in Jakarta from April 19 to 23 and in Bandung on April 24, he affirmed. "We will begin the commemoration of the Asia-Africa Conference with a meeting of senior officials in Jakarta, which will be followed by a ministerial-level meeting," Piay revealed. The two meetings will be held prior to the Asia-Africa Summit scheduled to be held on April 22 and 23 in Jakarta, he noted, adding that the highlight of the event, which will bring together leaders from the two continents, will be held in Bandung on April 24. "During the event commemorating the Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung on April 24, Asian and African leaders will participate in a historical walk, similar to what their predecessors did in 1955," the acting director explained.