JAKARTA, April 23 -- Leaders of Asian and African countries here on Thursday declared April 24 as the Asian-African Day to celebrate solidarity, cooperation and partnership to promote world peace and prosperity.

A 41-item Bandung Message was adopted at the conclusion of the two-day Asian-African Summit, calling for strengthening South- South cooperation.

"We meet in the midst of increasingly complex global challenges, "said the Bandung Message, adding that the Spirit of Bandung, as enshrined in at the first Asian-African Conference in 1955, or the Bandung Conference, remains solid, pertinent and effective as a foundation for nurturing stronger relations among Asian-African countries.

"It continues to provide guidance to resolve regional and global issues of common concern in accordance with the relevant principles of the Charter of the United Nations,"said the Message.

Leaders of some 30 countries from the two continents and representatives from around 100 nations attended the Asian-African Conference events, running from April 19 to 24.