THE Bandung Conference that took place 70 years ago in Indonesia in 1955 was a convening of 29 Asian and African states representing more than half the world’s population. The landmark event, organised by Indonesia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan, was an effort by newly independent countries to discuss common issues, including political independence, economic development and cultural cooperation.

In the following decade, as decolonisation progressed, friction among the member states created major schisms, resulting in the postponement of the second Asian-African conference planned to be held in Algeria in November 1965. Indonesia hosted the golden jubilee of the Asian-African meeting in 2005 to revive the spirit of Bandung. This resulted in the formation of the New Asian-African Strategic Partnership that expanded the agenda from merely non-alignment and anti-colonialism to broader cooperation under the banner of NAASP, with activities ranging from diplomatic training and technical cooperation to business forums.

While neither Bandung nor NAASP produced the desired results, the legacy of Bandung carries valuable lessons for peaceful coexistence. The core principles of solidarity, cooperation and mutual respect provide guidelines for addressing growing geopolitical tensions, deepening socioeconomic divisions and a roadmap for coping with a rapidly warming planet.

Looking at Bandung through the lens of climate change and the water security of South Asia can unlock many doors and help overcome barriers to tackling common challenges. As water, both in its frozen and unfrozen state (cryosphere and rivers), is critical for survival, it calls for a historical........

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