Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi Saturday summarized the achievements of the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit saying it "reaped rich fruits".
Leaders and representatives from 45 Asian and European nations attended the two-day summit, including 10 heads of state and 26 heads of government and regional organizations, said Yang.
More than 1,800 Chinese and foreign journalists from 51 countries came to Beijing to report on ASEM, he added..
"The summit was a pragmatic, open meeting, which embodied the strong wills of Asia and Europe in meeting challenges and seeking common development," Yang said.
Three documents were adopted, namely the ASEM Statement on the International Financial Situation, the Beijing Declaration on Sustainable Development, and the Chair's Statement, which included 17 cooperation proposals.
The current global financial crisis was the top subject of ASEM.
Asian and European leaders agreed to enhance information sharing, policy exchanges, and pragmatic cooperation on supervision and management in the financial sector and effectively monitor, prevent and respond to financial risks to ensure sustained, stable and sound economic growth.
"Agreement is conducive to restoring market confidence and safeguarding world economic and financial stability," he said.
The leaders also discussed food security, disaster relief, sustainable development, climate change, said Yang.
The Beijing Declaration says all parties concerned are committed to promoting the realization of the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as scheduled.
The Chair's Statement passed proposals on the economic, social, cultural and sustainable development cooperation between Asia and Europe.
"These proposals showed that the ASEM has started from dialogues and exchanges, to head for pragmatic cooperation," said Yang.
He said China has appealed to promote regional financial dialogue and cooperation and for reform of international monetary and financial systems. It had also proposed to build an Asian-European eco-city net, hold an Asian-European cultural and art festival, enhance trade safety between the two continents and promote disaster relief cooperation.
"The summit has given the world a better understanding of China and stronger confidence of China's development," said Yang.
He added, more than 40 bilateral meetings were held between Chinese and other leaders who came to Beijing for state or official visits.
"The summit plays a key role in the process of Asian-European cooperation and will definitely push forward the new partnership between countries of Asia and Europe, contribute to global peace, prosperity and harmony," Yang said in his concluding remarks.
The 45 ASEM member states and organizations account for more than half of the world's total GDP amount, and some 60 percent of the world's population and trade volume.
(Xinhua News Agency October 26, 2008)
