This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Bandung Conference, the first large-scale gathering of leaders from 29 African and Asian states and regions. Aiming for anti-colonialism and anti-hegemony, this historic meeting called for principles such as peaceful coexistence and achieving agreement. These principles, embedded in the "Bandung spirit," have finally become international norms referred to by many countries to deal with international problems.

Sixty years on, many of these countries that suffered from colonialism and oppression have prospered. Their reunion as emerging economies will herald a new age for the Bandung spirit.

Major economies that belong to the developing world have injected impetus to the growth of global economy. Nicknames such as "Four Asian Tigers," "BRICS," and "VISTA" are widely used to reflect their outstanding achievements. China's rapid development has drawn the keenest attention in these years, as it has entrenched its position as the world's biggest foreign reserves country and the largest economy in Asia.

The Bandung spirit intended to create a new climate for international politics and economy by unifying Afro-Asian countries, and China gave a great push for that purpose. Although times have changed and China's international status has been greatly elevated, China insists on its diplomatic philosophy and principles and stand by the majority of developing countries.

The current climate of the international community requires developing countries to seek coalition for common prosperity. That is why the Bandung spirit is still effective, and it has been incorporated in Chinese President Xi Jinping's proposal to establish a "community of common destiny."

Although peace and development have become the mainstream of the age, the international community is still threatened by regional crises and non-traditional security issues. Thus, interests and challenges are prompting every country involved to share a common destiny to seek cooperation and reciprocity.

China keeps its commitment to furthering cooperation with other countries, especially developing countries, so that they can be beneficiaries of China's development.

China has initiated and co-sponsored many regional fundraising and infrastructure projects, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Development Bank, the Silk Road Fund and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, all of which can serve the interests of developing countries. Therefore, as an unswerving supporter of the Bandung spirit, China has been trying its best to carry forward the spirit of enhancing Afro-Asian cooperation to another new level.

Afro-Asian states have to admit that, although they have made dramatic progress in the past six decades, they are still lagging behind their Western counterparts. They need to reinforce their relations as a community of common destiny, and China's "One Belt and One Road" program offers great opportunities for them.

This program reflects China's grand vision for diplomacy. It intends to expand China's influence and consolidate its connections with its neighbors by providing infrastructures, investments and technologies which are badly needed by these countries.

Through "One Belt and One Road," China will be more capable of spreading its philosophies such as peaceful development and community of common destiny to its neighbors, so they can be better understood and supported by the international community, which will eventually benefit from the dividends of China's development.

The author is a research fellow with the Charhar Institute and a research fellow with the Maritime Silk Road Institute, Huaqiao University.opinion@globaltimes.com.cn 

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