REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Tourism minister Arief Yahya said the anniversary commemoration of the Asian African Conference will serve as an important event to boost Indonesian tourism sector.

The 60th anniversary commemoration will take place in Bandung and Jakarta from April 19 to 24 attended by leaders of Asian and African countries.

Arief Yahya said here on Friday, the commemoration will consist of two core events -- senior officials meeting and ministerial meeting and leaders meeting.

Indonesian tourism industry would gain from the meetings as the country would be in the center of world attentions during the events, he said.

He said heads of state and governments including those of China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Malaysia and around 80 delegates from various countries will attend the conference.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo will address the opening ceremony.

Arief said the conference will contribute to strengthening Indonesian political role globally especially in contribution to maintaining peace and improving the welfare of the world as called for in the country's Constitution.

"At the same time we would organized various side events to promote the country tourism objects, culture and creative economy," Arief said.

More than 1,000 mass media representatives including from abroad will cover the events.

Asian African Conference was held in Bandung 60 years ago gathering leaders from the two continents amid raging wars for independence.

Many countries especially in Africa gained independence after the historical meeting.

Until April 10 there have been 25 countries confirming to take part in the commemoration. They include China, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Iran, South Africa, India, Afghanistan, Srilanka, Turkey Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Italy, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar, Nigeria, France, Lebanon, Jordan, the United States and Palestine.

In addition to MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions), the international event would contribute to boosting domestic and international tourism, Arief said.

Therefore, the side-events are designed so that the international events would be more entertaining, more impressive and educative to the public, to remind them of the substance of great past event in which Indonesia played a leading role, he said.

He said many people are not aware of the meaning of history and details of the Asian African Conference.

On April 19, senior official meeting will take place in Jakarta and Slank performance of Prosperity and Piece without Drugs in the Bung Karno Stadium in Senayan.

Theer would also be Exhibitions of South-South Cooperation and Triangular (KSST), Indonesia Heritage Exhibition, Collection of Document of AAC all to be displayed in JCC, Senayay, Jakarta.

Meanwhile in Bandung , there would be Asian African Solidarity Walk on April 19.

On April 20, 2015 , a Ministerial Meeting in Jakarta and New Asia Africa Youth Conference will take place.

On 21 April, 2015 , there would be Asian African Business Summit (AABS) with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), Working Lunch Small Island Developing States (SIDS) with the coordinating minister for Maritime in Jakarta.

In Bandung , there would be Solidarity Day a Tribute to Soekarno and Mandela to be highlighted with Mural Festival in Bandung.

On 22 April Leader Meeting will take place in Jakarta, Asia Africa Meet and Great and Photography Exhibition Bandung 1955 in Bandung.

On 23 April, in the JCC , Jakarta, there would be Parliamentary Conference on the 60th Commemoration of the Asian African Conference in Bandung.

Other side evevtns are stage of 20,000 'Angklung' which recorded guiness world of the record, Festival of Nations along the Dago road in Bandung.

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