The 38 member countries of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) should
make joint efforts to make the two continents more influential in
addressing major global issues, Premier Wen Jiabao said yesterday at the 6th ASEM
Summit.
The organization, described by Wen as "a strategic platform for
Asia and Europe to strengthen coordination and pursue common
development," should strengthen economic partnerships, promote
cultural development, further institutional building and maintain
ASEM's openness.
The leaders of the Asian and European countries and
representatives of the European Commission are gathered for the
two-day ASEM Summit, which celebrates its 10th anniversary in
Helsinki, Finland.
He asked all members to increase consultation on multilateral
mechanisms and support the UN's leading role in international
affairs, to strengthen coordination on international and regional
issues and intensify efforts to resolve the Korean Peninsula's
nuclear issue, the Iranian nuclear standoff, the Middle East crisis
and other regional issues.
Wen argued that it is necessary for all members to intensify
anti-terrorism cooperation, and that combating transnational crime
is essential to global peace and security.
Wen delivered a speech at the plenary meeting titled "Deepening
Asia-Europe Cooperation to Jointly Meet Challenges" during which he
put forward eight proposals to consolidate the partnership between
the two continents:
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Enhancing political dialogue and better responding to security
threats
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Deepening cultural exchanges to promote harmonious
coexistence
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Intensifying financial cooperation to promote balanced
economic development
-
Expanding dialogue and cooperation to ensure energy
security
-
Supporting the multilateral trading system for common
development
-
Encouraging business partnerships and expanding channels of
cooperation
-
Addressing non-traditional security issues and effectively
preventing and controlling avian influenza
-
Narrowing the urban-rural gap to realize balanced economic
development
Wen said that China, which will host the biennial ASEM in
Beijing in 2008, is committed to rendering the international
political and economic order fairer and more equitable.
"We honor in good faith our international obligations and are
assuming greater responsibility in the UN, the WTO and other
multilateral institutions."
At the meeting, Asian leaders invited India, Mongolia and
Pakistan to join future gatherings of ASEM, the only forum
dedicated to dialogue between Europe and Asia.
With more continental partners, Asian nations should grow more
unified and have a better dialogue with European counterparts, said
Wen.
China supports a leading role for the 10-member Association of
Southeast Asian Nations in pushing cooperation, he added.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the theme
of the summit "Global Challenges - Joint Responses" could not be
more appropriate.
On the agenda for leaders at the two-day meeting are such topics
as strengthening multilateralism, handling security threats,
globalization and competitiveness, sustainable development, and
intercultural and interfaith dialogue.
(China Daily September 11, 2006)
