JAKARTA, April 23, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Leaders of more than 100 Asian and African countries representing two thirds of the world's population endorsed on Saturday, April 23, a strategic partnership aimed at breathing new life into a half-century alliance.

“Through this partnership we will create, in the years ahead, a legacy of social, economic and cultural development for future generations of Asians and Africans,” Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in a closing speech, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

“The declaration of the new Asian-African strategic partnership is a milestone,” added Yudhoyono, the summit host.

South African President Thabo Mbeki Mbeki, who co-chaired the meeting, warned that the hard work of implementing the agreement lay ahead, reported Reuters.

“We have the responsibility to follow up on all of this,” he told the gathering of presidents, kings and ministers.

The meeting marked the 50th anniversary of the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference in the Indonesian city of Bandung, where the Third World sought to assert itself for the first time, inspiring the Non-Aligned Movement.

Leaders will end the summit on Sunday, April 24, with a nostalgic visit to Bandung.

The “New Asian-African Strategic Partnership” will also seek to address issues such as terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and organized crime, the four-page declaration said.

It commits countries to meeting internationally agreed targets for poverty eradication, development and growth.

“We recognize that the current global situation and the prevailing conditions in Asia and Africa necessitate the need to actively pursue a common view and collective action,” said the declaration.

The summiteers pledged commitment to principles of self-determination laid out in the 1955 summit.

“We envision an Asian-African region at peace with itself and with the world at large, working together as a concert of nations in harmony, non-exclusive, bonded in dynamic partnership and conscious of our historical ties and cultural heritage.”

The declaration also called for reforming multilateral institutions, including the United Nations, to make it more democratic and ease the grip of large powers.

The leaders also agreed to establish a tsunami warning network to prevent a repeat of the carnage from last year's Indian Ocean disaster in which 220,000 people died.

The plans for a “multi-nodal” system would see warning centers established across Asia and Africa.

“We are determined to establish an integrated strategy for the development of a multi-nodal early warning system with mechanisms for preparedness, prevention, mitigation and response, with a view to minimizing casualties,” said the final statement.

The leaders further pledged to work together to establish a standby arrangement for disaster relief and emergency response and create networks for information exchange.

“We are determined that, harnessed within a spirit of compassion, sacrifice and endurance, our preparedness and capacity to proactively address the effects of tsunami, earthquake and other natural disasters will prevail”.

The December 26 tsunami disaster, triggered by a massive undersea earthquake, affected the entire Indian Ocean region, claiming casualties on shorelines of 11 countries in Asia and Africa.

Debate has raged over how to prevent a repeat of the catastrophe, with countries including Thailand pushing to host a region-wide disaster warning center, while others have favored the multi-node system.

To institutionalize the new partnership, foreign ministers from the two continents will meet every two years and heads of state every four.