Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan on Wednesday elaborated China's positions on the cooperation within Asia at a regional meeting in Cha-am, 170 kilometers (106 miles) south of Bangkok, pointing out that economic development is the major concern for Asian nations.
"Currently, multilateral dialogues and cooperation in various forms are very active in Asia, which helps to enhance the region's stability and development," he said at the first Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) meeting being held between June 18 and 19.
"The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SOC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Plus Three (ASEAN plus China, Japan and South Korea) and other regional mechanisms have formed networks of trust and cooperation among Asian nations in different areas," Tang said.
The ACD meeting, initiated and hosted by the Thai government will serve as a new platform for cooperation between East Asia and South Asia, he said.
"China supports the ACD concept for a pan-Asia cooperation and 'collective win,' and believes it is a common ideal for all Asian people," said Tang.
However, he pointed out that due to the wide diversity of Asian sub-regions in economic, cultural and other areas, the ACD, in its preliminary stage, should first forge cooperation in some specific areas and take a 'step-by-step' procedure.
The ACD meeting is attended by foreign ministers from Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Brunei, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Qatar are represented by other ministers.
Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra made an opening address at the meeting Wednesday morning, which was followed by an exchange of views on Asia's cooperation among 17 ministers attending the event.
(People?s Daily June 20, 2002)
