To mark the 70th anniversary of the historic Bandung Conference, the China-Pakistan Study Centre (CPSC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted a landmark seminar titled “The Bandung Spirit (1955–2025): Seven Decades of Solidarity, Sovereignty, and South-South Cooperation.” The event brought together key diplomats, strategic thinkers, and academics to reflect on the enduring legacy of Bandung and its relevance in today’s multipolar global order.
Bandung Spirit and Pakistan’s Role in the Global South
Delivering the welcome remarks, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Director General ISSI and Pakistan’s former Foreign Secretary, reminded the audience of Pakistan’s prominent role in the 1955 Bandung Conference. He emphasized how the “Bandung Spirit” embodied the values of solidarity, sovereignty, peaceful coexistence, and South-South cooperation, and how these principles are more relevant than ever in today’s volatile geopolitical climate.
Ambassador Mahmood recalled the ideological foundation of the conference laid by China’s Premier Zhou Enlai, especially the articulation of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence—mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.
He noted that the 10-point declaration adopted in 1955 offered an alternative to the Western-dominated world order and laid the groundwork for non-Western diplomacy. He connected this legacy to Pakistan’s current engagement with major platforms like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), highlighting how these partnerships reflect Pakistan’s deep commitment to the Bandung vision.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed: Bandung as a Turning Point in Global Politics
Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, the Chief Guest, underscored that the Bandung Conference was a pivotal moment for Global South unity. He highlighted the significance of Premier Zhou Enlai’s diplomacy, which helped formulate the doctrine of peaceful coexistence—now a cornerstone of Chinese foreign policy.
Senator Mushahid described how the Bandung legacy continues to resonate today, influencing African-American civil rights movements and anti-imperial struggles across Asia and Africa. He lauded China’s diplomatic rise and reaffirmed that the Bandung framework remains vital for non-aligned and independent foreign policies in the Global South.
Ambassador Zamir Akram: Resisting Neo-Colonial Pressures
Ambassador Zamir Akram, former Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, emphasized the Bandung Conference’s role in the birth of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). He warned of persistent neo-colonial pressures and interventions by powerful nations in the Global South, stressing the need for vigilance and unity.
He praised China for its unwavering commitment to South-South solidarity, particularly through frameworks like BRI, SCO, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). According to him, these initiatives not only challenge the Western development model but also provide sustainable alternatives for developing nations.
Ambassador Dr. Nafees Zakaria: From Bipolarity to Multipolarity
Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Nafees Zakaria, Executive Director of COMSATS, stressed the transformation of the global system from bipolar to multipolar, where the Global South must reclaim its agency. He advocated for stronger intra-regional cooperation, urging developing nations to reduce dependency on the West and instead utilize shared natural and human resources.
His remarks focused on the practical dimensions of Bandung ideals—economic collaboration, educational exchanges, and technological partnership—to bridge the North-South divide.
Indonesia’s Voice: Strategic Trust and Peaceful Resolution
Representing Indonesia—the host of the 1955 Bandung Conference—Mr. Rahmat Hindiarta Kusuma, Chargé d’Affaires at the Indonesian Embassy in Islamabad, reiterated the enduring relevance of the Bandung principles. He called for greater strategic trust and regional unity, particularly in South Asia, to address conflict resolution and maintain global peace.
He stressed that the original Bandung Declaration, with its focus on anti-colonialism, sovereignty, and cooperation, remains a robust diplomatic tool for current global challenges.
New Frontiers of South-South Cooperation
Academic and strategic affairs expert Dr. Salma Malik discussed the Bandung Spirit’s application to non-traditional security issues such as food insecurity, healthcare, and education. She highlighted China’s Belt and Road Initiative as a modern instrument that aligns with the Bandung vision by enabling infrastructural and developmental collaboration across continents.
Her remarks pointed to the need for action-oriented strategies that address contemporary challenges without compromising the sovereignty and values of the Global South.
Dr. Talat Shabbir and Ambassador Khalid Mahmood:
Earlier in the seminar, Dr. Talat Shabbir, Director of CPSC, opened the session by framing the Bandung Spirit as a guiding force for future diplomacy among Southern nations. In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman BoG ISSI, reiterated the call for renewed solidarity, especially in resisting divisive influences that seek to fragment cooperation among developing states.
Why the Bandung Spirit Still Matters Today
The seminar served as a timely reminder that the Bandung Spirit of 1955 remains a strategic pillar for developing nations navigating a multipolar world. As China-Pakistan relations deepen through initiatives like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and BRI, both countries seem poised to champion a more equitable and inclusive world order.
