China and Japan ‘will both look to extend influence at Asian-African Conference’
President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be in Indonesia to commemorate 60th anniversary since emerging nations vowed to oppose colonialism
China and Japan will be seen as jockeying to extend their influence in Asia and as far as Africa at this week’s gathering of leaders for the Asian-African Conference marking the 60 years since the emerging nations vowed to oppose colonialism, according to analysts.
President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe – along with representatives from about 80 nations – will be in Indonesia commemorating the anniversary of the conference that formed the basis for the Non-Aligned Movement diplomatic norm.
Xi will go to Indonesia after ending his tour in Pakistan on Tuesday.
The first Asian-African Conference was held in the city of Bandung, on Java island, in 1955 with the attendance of about 30 nations that were newly independent.
Refusing to take sides during the Cold War either with the United States or the Soviet Union, the nations vowed that they would not be aligned with or against any major power bloc.
The leaders attending the commemoration, which starts from Tuesday until Friday, will be there to back the non-alignment principle and reiterate that it is still valid in post-Cold War international order.