Date:25/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/25/stories/2008102556551400.htm

International

Asia, Europe must come closer: Hu

Chinese leader stresses on spirit of equality and inclusiveness

— Photo: AFP

Outlining challenges: Chinese President Hu Jintao addressing the the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting in Beijing on Friday.

BEIJING: Chinese President Hu Jintao on Friday hailed the marked achievements of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) since its first meeting in 1996, saying it had become an important platform for Asia-Europe dialogue and cooperation.

“In response to the new requirements of the times, Asia and Europe should make better use of this platform to increase dialogue, expand consensus, enhance trust and deepen cooperation,” said Mr. Hu at the opening ceremony of the Seventh ASEM.

Mr. Hu called on Asian and European countries to respect each other’s social systems, ideology, cultural background and development models, and better appreciate each other’s policies and goals.

“We should embrace an open attitude and make full use of our strong economic complementarities to deepen existing cooperation, develop new areas of cooperation and properly handle economic and trade frictions through dialogue and consultations on an equal footing,” said the Chinese President.

He suggested Asia and Europe intensify coordination and cooperation to meet global challenges, promote stability in the international energy and food markets and strengthen cooperation in disaster prevention and reduction.

Asia and Europe should also actively respond to climate change, work for the attainment of the UN Millennium Development Goals, promote multilateralism and the proper settlement of international and regional hot-spot issues, and advance peace and development of the world, he said.

“It is an integral part of China’s foreign policy to strengthen and grow friendly relations and cooperation with countries in Asia and Europe,” said the Chinese leader.

China will continue to live in harmony and seek common development with other Asian countries, advance mutually beneficial cooperation with the European Union (EU) and its members, deepen China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, take an active part in the ASEM process and contribute its share to Asia-Europe cooperation.

Win-win situation

Mr. Hu described Asia-Europe cooperation as the best option of the two continents for win-win progress.

“As economic globalisation is gaining momentum, the future of Asia and Europe has been increasingly tied to the future of the whole world, and cooperation between Asia and Europe for win-win progress is our best option.”

It was therefore most fitting to choose “Vision and Action: Towards a Win-Win Solution” as the theme of this meeting, for it served the need of the current Asia-Europe relations, he added.

Asia and Europe were undergoing profound changes and adjustments, he noted.

“With general political stability and vigorous development of various regional and sub-regional cooperation mechanisms, Asia has become one of the world’s most dynamic regions in terms of development. Europe has made further progress in integration and external cooperation and is playing a greater role in international affairs,” said Mr. Hu. — Xinhua