Indonesia gears up for Asia-Africa Summit

JAKARTA, April 4 (UPI) -- Indonesia is gearing up for an Asian-African Summit later this month, expected to include 55 heads of state and boost cooperation between the two continents.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirajuda said foreign affairs ministers from Asia and Africa have already drafted a declaration on strategic partnership that will be signed by heads of state or government during the summit, set for April 22-23 in Jakarta.

A statement of ministers will also be issued, The Jakarta Post reported Monday. It will consist of a plan of action for the partnership and contain details of the declaration by the heads of state or government.

The summit is also expected to issue a statement on a tsunami early warning system for countries around the Indian Ocean, Hassan said.

In addition to the Asian and African states, delegations from 25 members of the Non-Aligned Movement on other continents will also attend the golden jubilee celebrations of the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung, West Java, on April 24.

Asia and Africa are home to 4.6 billion people, or 73 percent of the world's population. The combined gross domestic product of the two continents amounts to $9.3 trillion.