Decision on the Report on the New Africa-Asia Strategic Partnership

DECISION ON THE REPORT ON THE NEW
AFRICA-ASIA STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
DOC.EX.CL/198(VII)

1. TAKES NOTE of the report;

2. COMMENDS the initiatives taken by the Commission, in accordance with the mandate assigned to it by the 4^th Ordinary Session of the Assembly;

3. FURTHER COMMENDS the preparation and organization by the Commission, in conjunction with the co-chair, of the Africa-Asia Ministerial Session and Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia on 20, 22 - 23 April 2005 respectively and the adoption of the conclusions that emerged from them;

4. REITERATES its commitment for a new and mutually advantageous partnership with Asian countries;

5. ALSO COMMENDS the successful celebration of the golden Jubilee of the 1955 Bandung Conference;

6. RENEWS its attachment to the spirit and principles of Bandung as foundation for the strategic partnership between Africa and Asia;

7. ACKNOWLEDGES, and commends the important role played by South Africa in relaunching dialogue between Africa and Asia;

8. REITERATES the leadership role of the African Union, through its competent organs in the steering and coordination on the African side, of the Africa-Asia strategic partnership;

9. STRESSES the need to coordinate and strengthen mechanisms already in place and to continually engage in effective dialogue that will consolidate and strengthen the partnership between Africa and Asia.

10. REQUESTS in this regard that together with the Permanent Representatives Committee through its Sub-Committee on Multilateral Cooperation, the consultations initiated between the South Africa Co-Chair and the Commission, with a view to promoting the leadership of the African Union in this process and to defining the practical modalities of implementing the new Africa-Asia strategic partnership, be continued.