Chinese FM calls for new Asia-Europe partnership

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-06-19 17:19

BEIJING -- Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has called on Asian and European countries to further promote cooperation and frequent dialogue in a bid to form a new Asia-Europe partnership.

"To seek peace, development and cooperation is the common desire of people in Asia, Europe and beyond," said Yang during his speech at the opening of the Fifth Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meeting (ASEP V) here on Thursday.

Politically, both Asia and Europe stand for multi-lateralism and both are major forces in promoting the healthy development of international relations, he said. Economically, both are witnessing steady growth and "our economies have much to offer to each other." Culturally, both Asia and Europe enjoyed cultural diversity, and the two sides had engaged in dynamic dialogue and exchanges.

"Asia and Europe are more than ever closely interconnected and interdependent, promising broader prospects for Asia-Europe cooperation."

As a mechanism connecting Asia and Europe, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) has established itself as an important channel of dialogue and cooperation between the two continents, Yang said.

"It has registered significant progress in the three areas of political dialogue, economic cooperation and social and cultural exchanges."

During more than a decade of development, ASEM has grown in strength, with the number of its partners rising from 26 to 45. This represented 60 percent of the world's population, over 50 percent of the global GDP, and about 60 percent of trade, reflecting a significant rise of representation and influence of the bloc, according to Yang.

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