Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said in New Delhi Tuesday
that the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
has a bright future with continued institutional development,
accelerated process of cooperation and great opening.
Li made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 14th SAARC
summit.
"SAARC, as an important organization for regional cooperation,
has played an active role in promoting social and economic
development as well as peace and stability in South Asia," he
said.
South Asia is an important part of Asia. The South Asian
countries are committed to peace and development, the region is
enjoying fast and sustained economic growth and good progress has
been made in regional cooperation, Li pointed out. South Asia's
international standing is rising, and it is full of vigor and
vitality, he said.
During the two-day summit hosted by India in its capital, eight
SAARC countries will discuss major peace and development issues
including anti-terrorism, poverty alleviation and intra-regional
free trade.
SAARC, comprising of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the
Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, was established in
1985.
It is the first time in the SAARC history for China, the EU,
Japan, South Korea, and the US to attend the summit as
observers.
(Xinhua News Agency April 3, 2007)
