Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has called for more multilateral efforts to deal with challenges that pose a threat to world peace and balanced development. He was speaking at the eighth Asia-Europe meeting (ASEM) of foreign ministers which concluded yesterday.

The ASEM mechanism, initiated in 1996, has established a platform for EU and Asian countries to compare notes on issues concerning cooperation in various fields and also on international matters that have a bearing on world peace and development.

In this global village, the interests of different countries and regions are becoming more interrelated and, therefore, consensus and understanding on the basis of dialogue on an equal footing has never been so important.

The Darfur issue is a typical example. China has consistently maintained that political dialogue rather than economic sanctions should be employed as the most effective means to find a solution acceptable to all parties concerned.

China has made tangible efforts in that direction and showed its sincerity by sending 270 engineering peacekeepers to pave the way for the deployment of more peacekeepers.

The progress made on the Darfur issue suggests that sanctions, which some Western countries like to wield as a weapon, are very likely to increase misunderstanding and confrontation.

In addition, there are many issues that require the joint efforts of different countries in seeking the best possible solution. Such endeavors must be on the basis of understanding among different participants.

Global warming, for example, is an issue that has a great bearing on the future of the world and must be dealt with through concerted efforts of the world community.

Developing countries need money and technology to upgrade their fuel-burning facilities to reduce emissions, but such spending takes a toll on their economic development. So when developed countries place demands on their developing counterparts, they must take into consideration the specific difficulties the latter face.

Again, dialogue is imperative for both sides to put across their views. The regular meeting of foreign ministers of EU and Asian countries, therefore, serves the interests of both continents and facilitates understanding on a wide range of issues.

With cooperation between the two continents on the increase all the time, the role of such meetings will become more important.

(China Daily 05/30/2007 page10)