Asian Approaches to Development Cooperation: Contemporary Asian Perspectives on South-South Cooperation

Abstract

Twenty-first century development cooperation has changed dramatically due to the growth, both in scale and volume, of South- South Cooperation (SSC). SSC — cooperation based on mutually beneficial trade, aid, diplomacy or strategic partnerships between and amongst countries at similar stages of development — has existed for decades. The year 2015 marked the 60th anniversary of the historic 1955 Asian-African conference held in Bandung, Indonesia, which laid the foundation for the solidarity that underpins South-South cooperation today (MOF Indonesia, 1955). While SSC is therefore not new, it has evolved since its mid-twentieth century genesis. In particular, the economic and strategic rise of Asia in the twenty-first century has led to its expansion and diversification.