UN General Assembly
1969

powerful headway. The actual course of events makes this idea very topical in Asia. 148. The old continent of Asia has repeatedly generated acute international conflicts. In fact in the twentieth century that region has never known the meaning of peace; for hostilities, first in one place and then in another, have never ceased there for several decades. 149. Events in that part of the globe, which has the largest territory and population, have a very direct impact on the whole world situation. This is all the truer since numerous complications and difficulties have been introduced into Asian life from without and have their roots in foreign interference and colonialism. 150. Nevertheless Asia offers a good many instances in which joint efforts have ended armed conflicts and cleared the way to peace. This happened at the time of the work of the Geneva Conferences of 1954 and 1962, and the Tashkent Conference of 1966. 151. Many Asian countries are seeking ways of ensuring peace and security by collective efforts. This idea essentially permeates the decisions of the well-known Bandung Conference.