27/12/2025
๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐จ๐ฅ๐ก๐ฆ ๐ง๐ข ๐๐๐ก๐ง๐ฅ๐ ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ก๐๐จ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง ๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ง๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐๐
KUALA LUMPUR, 27 December 2025 โ The International Forum on New Inclusive Asia (IFNIA) 2025 convened leading scholars, diplomats and policymakers at the Connexion Conference and Event Centre, Bangsar South, to mark the 70th anniversary of the historic Bandung Conference and to re-examine the growing influence of the Global South in an increasingly multipolar and fragmented world order.
๐ฝ๐๐ฃ๐๐ช๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฉ ๐ณ๐ฌ: ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ค๐ง๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ค๐ก๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐พ๐ค๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ค๐ง๐๐ง๐ฎ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐ฃ๐๐
Co-organised by the Centre for New Inclusive Asia (CNIA), Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), the Communication University of China and the Global Governance Institution, with support from the Embassy of the Peopleโs Republic of China in Malaysia, the Forum carried the theme โThe Rise of the Global South โ From the Bandung Conference to Building a Community with a Shared Future.โ
Opening addresses by CNIA President Mr Koh King Kee, UTAR President Ir. Prof. Datoโ Dr Ewe Hong Tat, Prof. Li Huailiang and Dr Tian Shichen underscored Bandungโs enduring legacy as the foundation of the Non-Aligned Movement and South-South cooperation, while framing the Global Southโs transition from the periphery to a central force in global governance.
๐๐๐ฎ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐จ๐๐๐๐จ: ๐๐ก๐ค๐๐๐ก ๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ๐ ๐๐จ ๐๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ค๐ข๐๐, ๐๐ค๐ก๐๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค๐ง๐๐ก ๐๐ค๐ง๐๐
Delivering the first keynote, Minister Zheng Xuefang, Minister at the Embassy of the Peopleโs Republic of China in Malaysia, highlighted the Global Southโs decisive contribution to global growth, noting that developing countries have accounted for about 80 percent of world economic growth over the past 20 years, while their share of global GDP has risen to over 40 percent. He reaffirmed Chinaโs role as a โnatural member of the Global Southโ and called for renewed commitment to inclusive development, peace, civilisational dialogue and reform of global governance institutions under the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Datoโ Zainol Rahim Zainuddin, Director General of the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR), positioned the Global South as a community shaped by shared history and renewed agency. Drawing from Malaysiaโs ASEAN Chairmanship experience, he stressed that inclusivity, sustainability and people-centred development must anchor future cooperation, while calling for reforms to multilateral institutions to reflect present-day realities.
In his keynote titled โReclaiming the Bandung Spirit in Resisting Unilateral Coercion,โ Tan Sri Ong Tee Keat, Chairman of CNIA, delivered a forceful critique of unilateral sanctions, trade coercion and the erosion of the United Nations Charter. He argued that the resurgence and expansion of BRICS has rekindled hope across the Global South by providing alternative platforms for representation, development financing and local-currency cooperation, reinforcing the continued relevance of Bandungโs principles of sovereignty, equality and non-interference.
๐๐๐๐ค๐ก๐๐ง๐ก๐ฎ ๐ฟ๐๐๐ก๐ค๐๐ช๐ ๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐ช๐ก๐ฉ๐๐ฅ๐ค๐ก๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ช๐ฉ๐ช๐ง๐๐จ
Three panel sessions examined Bandungโs legacy, the Global Southโs role in a shifting multipolar order, and pathways towards inclusive and sustainable partnerships. Speakers from Malaysia, China, Indonesia, Singapore and France explored South-South cooperation, global governance reform and the need for principled multilateralism amid rising geopolitical tensions.
The Forum concluded with closing remarks by Dr Chin Yee Mun of UTAR, reaffirming IFNIA 2025 as a timely platform to renew Bandungโs spirit and strengthen the Global Southโs collective voice in shaping a more just, inclusive and balanced international order.