"We have to realize our goals through cooperation on the basis of equal footing with friends of other countries," the president stated while addressing the 60th anniversary of the Asian-African Conference (AAC) at the Merdeka Building here on Friday.

"As the president of a country with a population of over 250 million, (I felt) Indonesia is not yet free from poverty and is still lagging behind advanced nations. This is a problem still faced by Asian and African countries," Jokowi noted. 

President Jokowi appealed to all delegates attending the function to rekindle the Asian and African spirit, which was created by the great state leaders in 1955.

"I call on all of us to revive the Bandung spirit and the spirit of our past leaders. Let us increase mutual understanding, work for world peace, and fight for the Palestinian independence," Jokowi remarked.

He also highlighted the importance of economic cooperation. "Besides this, I hope that we, in our respective countries, will work hand in hand to improve the welfare of the people in the pursuit for boosting trade," the president stated.

In the meantime, representing Africa, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe emphasized that the Asian and African cooperation should continue to increase and now was the right time to do it.

Mugabe added that the Asian and African countries were now facing different challenges from those in the past yet this should not dampen the cooperation spirit, so that all countries in Asia and Africa can become prosperous and advanced.

In the meantime, representing Asia, Myanmar President Tein Sein also delivered his speech.

Indonesia is hosting a series of events to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the AAC from April 19 to April 24, 2015.(WDY)