Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan met Thursday with his Asian and European counterparts, who are here to attend the third Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Foreign Ministers' meeting.
Tang briefed the ministers on the agenda of the meeting.
Tang said ASEM members have conducted dialogue and exchanges on the basis of equality, mutual respect and benefit since the ASEM was established, promoting mutual understanding and cooperation among Asian and European countries.
He said that the ASEM has made great contributions to furthering the friendship among Asian and European countries.
He expressed hope that the participating foreign ministers, under the theme of strengthening Asia-Europe partnership in the new century, would hold in-depth discussions about politics, trade, economic cooperation and cultural exchange, in order to push forward the Asia-Europe cooperation process.
The ministers expressed the belief that the meeting would achieve success through joint efforts.
Sources said the foreign ministers held political dialogue after the meeting with Tang. They exchanged views on the current international situation, political and security issues in Asian and European regions, the strengthening of the role of the United Nations, disarmament and arms control, and the issue of the Korean peninsula and reached a consensus, according to the sources.
The third ASEM Foreign Ministers' meeting will begin Friday morning.
(Peopels' daily 05/25/2001)
