JAKARTA, April 22  -- It's high time for Asia and Africa to further unleash their potential, pursue untapped opportunities and achieve collective development, which will in turn strengthen South-South, South-North and Asian-African cooperation.

The view is broadly shared by those attending the Asian-African Conference (AAC) 2015 in the Indonesian capital, where many have also expressed their belief that China is to play an increasingly positive role in boosting Asian-African growth.

VAST POTENTIAL FOR INTERCONTINENTAL COOPERATION

In 1955, the original AAC was held with the goal of seeking national independence and peaceful coexistence. Six decades later, the focus has shifted to achieving cooperative development and building a community of common destiny.

There are a number of areas in which the two continents can better cooperate, including agriculture, manufacturing and infrastructure, according to South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Africa boasts of a growing working population, an expanding consumer market and abundant natural resources. Observers believe that these advantages could help the continent assume an increasingly important role in the global food value chain and grow into a manufacturing success.

On the other hand, many Asian countries have developed state-of- the-art technologies and skills, while Africa is still short of technical expertise and training.

Ramaphosa highlighted the "harsh reality of daily struggles of many people on the African continent," calling for concerted efforts to free millions from poverty and provide them with opportunities to improve their lives.

"By improving cooperation between Africa and Asia, we can contribute to the achievement of this objective," he noted.

CHINA TO MAKE DUE CONTRIBUTION

The AAC 2015 has a chance at success, given encouraging signs in Africa, such as the considerable achievement seen in Nigeria and Ghana, as well as the presence of China, a strong economy and significant investor in Africa and across Asia, said Greg Barton, an Asia expert at Monash University of Australia.

"Asian and African countries are looking forward to the materialization of China's 'Belt and Road' initiative, which may offer important public goods to them," said Tang Zhimin, director of China ASEAN Studies under Bangkok-based Panyapiwat Institute of Management.

The "Belt and Road" initiative refers to the building of the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, a modern version of the famous ancient trade routes that span Asia, Africa and Europe.

The unfolding of the initiative will bring along transportation and communication infrastructure, and "a liberalized and harmonized trade and investment regime extended to cover most countries along the belt and the road," Tang said.

"But perhaps the most important public goods China could bring to the world is a new type of international relationship between a rising power and its neighbors based on principles of mutual respect, non-aggression, non-interference, mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence," he said.

China, as a big global player, has a lot to offer in terms of its ability to assist weaker economies and smaller countries, said Joseph Ma'ahanua, a Solomon Islands delegate.

STRENGTHENING COOPERATION TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES

"The world that we inherited today is still fraught with global injustice, inequality and violence," Indonesian President Joko Widodo told the Asian-African summit on Wednesday as part of the AAC 2015.

A lack of infrastructure, such as airports, roads and ports, are impeding the development of some African countries, while other Asian and African nations have suffered internal conflicts due to their failure to find a national identity since their independence from the 1950s to 1970s.

In Asia and Africa, not all countries were the same, each with their particularities, problems and approaches, Nigerian Foreign Minister Aminu Bashir Wali said.

Analysts believed that challenges still remain for Asia and Africa before a more rational international order and collective development could be achieved, and the best solution is the enhancement of intercontinental collaboration.

Addressing the summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged Asian and African nations to work together to promote the building of a community of common destiny for all mankind.

Xi brought forth a three-point proposal, which is aimed at boosting Asia-Africa cooperation, South-South cooperation and South-North cooperation.

The sense of building cooperation between Asia and Africa is of value, "particularly when dealing with issues that are globally in nature," be they political, economic or social, Ma'ahanua from Solomon Islands said.

"By strengthening South-South cooperation, we can begin a new era in global trade, one that will be driven and sustained by two of the world's fastest-growing regions," South African Deputy President Ramaphosa said.