(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-04-05 21:47

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt -- A senior Chinese diplomat on Saturday proposed here that stability, solidarity, development and cooperation are of crucial importance for the lasting peace and development in both Asia and the Middle East.

Wang Yi, China's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, made the remarks in a keynote speech at the second Ministerial Meeting of Asia-Middle East Dialogue (AMED), which opened in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Saturday.

Wang called on countries in both Asia and the Middle East to seek peaceful solutions to disputes, resolve differences through dialogue and negotiation, promote mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination and strive for common security through cooperation.

He termed domestic stability as the high agenda of governments, calling on regional countries to remove of destabilizing factors such as poverty and underdevelopment, promote social harmony, and international community to do more to promote stability in the two regions.

The senior Chinese diplomat also called on countries in Asia and the Mideast to strengthen traditional friendly ties, expand exchanges, deepen friendship among governments and the people, step up mutual support in international affairs, enhance policy coordination in multilateral economic field to uphold the rights and interests of the developing countries.

He also termed development as the top priority for all countries in the two regions, calling on them to stick to development paths which suit their respect national conditions, and seek all-round, balanced and sustainable economic and social development.

He urged the international community to respect the paths and models of countries in the two regions and provide greater financial and technological support.

Countries in the two regions can promote all-round economic cooperation, including exploring free trade arrangements, establish dialogue and cooperation mechanisms between energy producing and consuming countries as Asia and the Middle East complement each other in terms of resources, market, and industrial structures, Wang added.

He also called for active dialogue between civilizations and religions to advance common progress of different civilizations and societies.

For his part, Egyptian Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni noted that the language of culture has turned out to be the most forceful medium in the domain of interaction between peoples and races, calling for reconciliation and equity among different civilizations.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit, host of the meeting as well as new Chairman of the Dialogue, and the Singaporean Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yong-Boon Yeo also delivered speeches, expecting a better future for Asia and the Middle East through strengthened cooperation and coordination.

Under the theme "Partnership in Action Towards a Better Future", the two-day second AMED Ministerial Meeting attracted foreign ministers, representatives and senior officials from 50 Asian and Middle East countries.

The meeting agenda focuses on three tracks: political issues; economic issues; social, scientific, and media issues, according to the dialogue proceedings.

At the end of the two-day meeting, participants were expected to sign a declaration of principles on cooperation and friendship, Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki said.

The first AMED dialogue was held in Singapore on June 21-22, 2005, under the theme of "Common Interests and Common Challenges."