"The ARF, born in the post-Cold-War mid-1990s, has evolved into a most significant forum for security dialogue in the region and for the past eight years since it was formed it kept moving forward in conducting dialogue and cooperation," he said at the annual meet of ARF foreign ministers held in the Brunei capital.

"First of all, the ARF made useful exploratory endeavors in increasing mutual understanding and confidence among its participants and stepping up regional security dialogue and cooperation," said the Chinese minister.

In this regard, he said, three key papers adopted at the forum's meet last year, including one on preventive diplomacy, gave a new impetus to future development.

Moreover, "the ARF conducted fruitful dialogue and cooperation on fighting terrorism and cracking down on transnational crimes," Tang said, citing that the forum issued a Chairman's Statement on the terrorist attacks of September 11 and held a series of seminars on the subject.

In addition, "in the course of the ARF's exploratory efforts, a set of effective modalities and principles have taken shape, such as adopting decision by consensus, making gradual progress, moving at a pace comfortable to all, and not interfering in each other's internal affairs," Tang noted.

He said the Chinese Government has always attached importance to the positive role played by the ARF in maintaining regional peace and stability, and supported the ARF in keeping the momentum of development and continuously making new progress.

"I wish to reiterate that the Chinese side supports the ARF in further exploring and developing dialogue and cooperation in non-traditional security field, including counter-terrorism, in gradually expanding the participation of defense officials in the ARF, and in continuously adhering to the existing and effective modalities and principles, with confidence building at the core," said the minister.

"China also supports ASEAN in continuing to play a leading role within the ARF," he affirmed.

China is an active member of the ARF, the region's premier security forum which also groups 10 ASEAN members, namely, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as Australia, Canada, European Union, India, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, South Korea, Japan, Mongolia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Russia and the United States.

Wednesday's meeting is ARF's first ministerial meet after the September 11 terrorist attack on the United States and it followed the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and the ASEAN plus China, Japan and South Korea meeting (10+3) between July 29 and 30.

(eastday.com August 1, 2002)