Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said in Kildare, Ireland,
on Saturday that multilateralism provides mankind with an effective
way to deal with common challenges and important means to solve
international disputes.??
In a keynote speech at a reception for Asia Europe Meeting
(ASEM) foreign ministers, Li urged Asia and Europe to deepen their
equal partnership so as to build a better world and a brighter
future for the peoples of the two continents.
"Evolution of effective multilateralism hinges on the
establishment of global partnership guided by new concepts of
security, development and civilization and based on equality,
mutual trust and cooperation," Li told the reception hosted by
Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen, whose country currently holds
the rotating EU presidency.
"Partnerships should be built on the cornerstone of equal
participation in international affairs. Countries, big or small,
strong or weak, are equal before international law and basic norms
governing international relations," said Li. "The existing
international multilateral institution, with the United Nations at
its core, is the best venue for all countries to participate in
international affairs on an equal footing and the institutional
guarantee for democratic and law-based international relations. We
have every reason to strengthen it and no excuse to weaken it."
Li made the remarks during the sixth ASEM Foreign Minister's
Meeting that has also drawn together foreign ministers from the
15EU states and Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia,
the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
"Partnership should be maintained on the basis of mutual trust
fostered through dialogue. Countries with different cultures,
social systems and ideologies, should have less pride and prejudice
but more sense and sensibility. They should commit themselves to
democratic consultations or negotiations on the basis of equality
and mutual respect, so as to nurture their mutual trust, dissolve
misgivings, seek common ground while shelving differences and
settle their disputes and conflicts by peaceful means," Li
said.
"Accusations, pressure and even arbitrary use of force do not
help root out threats or bring about peace. In this regard, it is
useful to study the efforts and attempts made by China and other
countries concerned in seeking peaceful settlement of the nuclear
issue on the Korean Peninsula," Li stressed.
"Partnership should be considered through mutually beneficial
cooperation. In a world of interdependence, no single country can
assure itself of an absolute security on its own or achieve
sustainable development in disregard of other's interests," Li
added.
Saying that both Asia and Europe are at an important stage in
their development, Li pointed out that to deepen the equal
partnership between the two continents is consistent with their
shared interests and the direction in which multilateralism
develops.
"Asia and Europe should work hand in hand to uphold the value
and sanctity of the UN Charter, and to reinvigorate the UN by
reform. We should endeavor to promote the dialogue and cooperation
between the North and South and attain the Millennium Development
Goal. We should encourage harmonious coexistence of different
civilizations and call for respect and preservation of cultural
diversity. Our two sides should make better use of the platform we
founded within the ASEM framework, enrich our cooperation and
improve its quality, "Li concluded.
(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2004)