Paris and Le Havre, France — From March 5 to 7, 2025, the international conference “The Rise of Asia” took place, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the 1955 Asian-African Conference and continuing the Bandung Spirit Movement. Day one was held in Paris, followed by sessions in Le Havre for the remaining two days, serving as a crucial forum for developing countries to collaborate on creating a more just, inclusive, and sustainable global future.
Since its launch in 2015, The Rise of Asia Conference has consistently emphasized solidarity, cooperation, and decolonization. This year, it reinforced its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the foundation of global development initiatives. A key agenda was the establishment of the University of New Emerging Forces (UNEFO) in Koudougou, Burkina Faso, supporting SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), and SDGs 10 and 11 (Reducing Inequality and Building Sustainable Communities). Notably, a student from UGM’s Department of Architecture and Planning (DTAP), Bening Putri Kasandra, contributed to the library design team for UNEFO, incorporating Burkina Faso’s local values and embodying the Asia-Africa spirit.
Prof. Darwis Khudori, a DTAP UGM alumnus from 1976, now a professor at Le Havre Normandie and a key initiator of the Bandung Spirit Movement, shared his insights into Africa-Asia’s role in advancing the SDGs during the conference.
The event also focused on strengthening cooperation among developing countries, highlighting Indonesia’s leadership in the New Emerging Forces movement, and proposing innovative architectural and urban solutions rooted in local wisdom and aligned with SDGs principles—such as addressing climate change (SDG 13) and tackling inequality (SDG 10). This conference offered not only a reflection on historical milestones but also a platform for actionable steps toward building a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future guided by the SDGs vision.
