Good ties with Asia hailed

Cooperation dominates foreign policy of nations, says minister

BEIJING: Stability and development are the common wish of countries in Asia, and cooperation is the main trend of all Asian nations’ foreign policy, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin said.

Asia remains “generally stable” despite the occasional problems, Liu said, adding that relevant sides had always handled their differences through friendly consultation.

All nations in the region are cooperating in a mutually beneficial way, through which they hope to achieve common development, Liu said.

Liu said the region had become increasingly important in international configuration.

It has been a major engine of global growth, as its economy last year is expected to swell by 7% to 7.5%, while the global financial crisis and European debt crisis persist and the world’s economic situation remains uncertain.

Meanwhile, the Chinese official said Asia still faced many uncertain and unstable factors.

Hot and thorny issues still stick out in the region, where economic risks remain and non-traditional security problems – such as natural disasters – pose greater challenges, Liu said.

“We firmly believe that Asia will be sure to grasp the opportunities and make greater contribution to the world’s peace and development as long as we carry forward the spirit of harmonious co-existence, neighbourliness and friendship, addressing problems through consultation and dialogue, respect for diversified civilisation, and solidarity and cooperation, and each adheres to a development path in accordance with its

Generally, relations between China and Asian nations have withstood the test of volatile international situations. — LIU ZHENMIN

national conditions,” Liu said.

The Assistant Foreign Minister said the relationship between China and neighbouring countries maintained a good momentum of development, with further deepening neighbourly friendship, political mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation.

China has worked with neighbouring nations to overcome the adverse affect of international financial crisis, properly coped with regional hot issues and positively advanced regional cooperation to an unprecedented depth and width especially in fields like trade, investment, infrastructure and culture, he said.

Last year, Chinese leaders interacted with almost all other Asian leaders through mutual visits and multilateral meetings, said Liu.

With these high-level interactions, China enhanced mutual understanding and trust with its neighbours and put forward constructive suggestions for promoting bilateral pragmatic cooperation, Liu said.

“Generally speaking, the relations between China and Asian nations have withstood the test of the volatile international situations and have achieved constant progress,” Liu said. — Xinhua