REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Poverty remains a problem in Asian and African countries, although the rate of poverty has declined slightly, according to former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

"Several people in countries in Asian and African continents, including in Indonesia, have to face the problem of poverty as they still earn less than US$8 per day," Yudhoyono stated at the Asian-African Parliamentary Conference held at the Nusantara building here on Thursday (23/4).

However, the former president pointed out that some of the countries have managed to record progress in the framework of the Millennium Development Goals, and the progress must be continued.

Yudhoyono further noted that regional and inter-regional cooperation, particularly the South-South cooperation, should continue to be enhanced.

According to the former president, countries in Asia and Africa have abundant resources and innovative manpower resources that can be shared and developed further.

"Interconnectivity must be maintained through cooperation among the governments and parliaments to maintain peace, justice, and welfare among the people of Asia and Africa," Yudhoyono affirmed.

He stated that the Asian-African Conference forum should ensure best possible cooperation among countries in the Asian-African region.

"The spirit of Asia and Africa will never fade. In the past, the spirit was anti-colonialism, and now, its spirit is to fight for peace, justice, and prosperity," he affirmed.

The former president expressed hope that the Asian-African Conference 2015 could usher in a new wind of change for Indonesia to enhance its role in the global arena.

"More importantly, the people of Indonesia must benefit from the cooperation that we have to maintain," Yudhoyono added.

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