Foreign Minister Li
Zhaoxing has held a series of talks in Kyoto with his Asian and
European counterparts on the sidelines of the Asia Europe Meeting
(ASEM) 7th foreign ministers' meeting in Kyoto, Japan, which opened
on Friday and concluded yesterday.
They spoke highly of the sound development in China's
relationships and agreed to maintain high-level contacts, expand
exchange and cooperation in various fields, and strengthen
consultation and coordination in regional and international
affairs.
The foreign ministers reiterated adherence to a one-China policy
during talks with Li, who arrived on Thursday for the annual
meeting aimed at deepening dialogue between Asia and Europe.
Li met with his Malaysian counterpart Syed Hamid Albar on Friday
and they reached a consensus on seeking common development in the
South China Sea by setting aside differences with a view to
safeguarding peace and stability in the area.
During his meetings with EU foreign ministers, Li reiterated
China's stance on the lifting of arms embargo against it. He urged
the EU to lift the ban as soon as possible so as to remove it as an
obstacle to the smooth development of relations. They expressed
willingness to push forward the process toward removing it.
Li also discussed the UN reform, saying it should be
comprehensive and multi-faceted with priority given to development.
On reform of the UN Security Council, he said the focus should be
on expanding representation of developing countries and maintaining
solidarity of member states.
During his meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka
Machimura on Saturday, Li said that both sides should build on the
achievement of the meeting between President Hu Jintao
and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in Indonesia on April
23.
Li said that it is crucial for the Japanese government to
faithfully realize its promises on history and Taiwan issues.
Machimura agreed that the leaders' meeting was significant,
adding that Japan would follow its spirit to make joint efforts to
develop relations.
Also on Saturday, State Councilor Tang
Jiaxuan said while meeting visiting Assistant to the Japanese
Prime Minister Taku Yamazaki in Beijing that he hoped Japan and
China can make concerted efforts to bring relations back to
normality.
(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2005)