Vietnam has actively involved in joint efforts to fosterAsian-African connectivity as showed through its participation in theAsian-African Conference 2015 as one of the conference’s founders and aresponsible and trustworthy partner of the two continents, said DeputyForeign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc. Ngoc noted thatVietnamese officials were present at all events held at the same time inJakarta, Indonesia on April 22-24, including President Truong Tan Sangattending a ceremony marking the 60 th anniversary of the Bandungconference and 10 years of the Asia-Africa strategic partnership, andDeputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc joining the World Economic Forumon East Asia. Vietnamese leaders helped foreignfriends get better understanding of Vietnam’s efforts in building aSoutheast Asian region of peace, stability and prosperity. They also clarified the need to peacefully settle disputes inconformity with international law, ensuring maritime and aviationsecurity, safety and freedom, he said. Vietnam alsoshared initiatives and experience in boosting connectivity andcooperation with African countries as well as the South-Southcooperation. The message on strengtheningAsia-Africa connectivity for peace and prosperity in the world on thebasis of international law delivered by State President Truong Tan Sangwas lauded by event participants, said Ngoc. At thesame time, Vietnam contributed constructively to building documents usedat the conference, especially those contents relating to the East Sea,water security, Ngoc stated. The Deputy FMreiterated that the formation of the Asian-African Conference, alsoknown as the Bandung Conference in 1955, was significant since it wasthe first multilateral conference to gather developing andnewly-liberated countries in joint actions to eliminate colonialism andcooperate for mutual development. After Vietnam’sDien Bien Phu victory in 1954, the conference encouraged the nationalliberation movements around the world, he said, noting that over 20African countries gained independence five years after the firstconference. The conference opened up a new era ofsolidarity among developing countries, resulting in the inception of theNon-Aligned Movement in 1961, Group 77 in 1964 and then South-SouthCooperation mechanism, the diplomat noted. The 10principles of Bandung helped with the building of common principles ofconduct regulating relations among countries, including regulations ofrespecting sovereignty and territorial integrity and not violating andintruding other countries, as well as settling disputes through peacefulmeasures in line with the United Nations Charter, Ngoc said. He revealed that this year, the conference issued a number ofimportant documents, including the Bandung message on strengtheningSouth-South cooperation for forging global peace and prosperity, astatement on enhancing vitality of new Asian-African strategicpartnership, and a statement on Palestine. Thedocuments highlight the role of the United Nations in maintaininginternational peace and security as well as the need to bolster trade,investment cooperation and connectivity.-VNA