A Chinese state councilor on Wednesday pledged the country's readiness to contribute to exchanges and cooperation between Asian and European nations and made proposals on promoting the two continents' cultural exchanges.

In a keynote speech made at the opening ceremony of the Conference on Cultures and Civilizations of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), State Councilor Chen Zhili said China attaches high importance to the role culture plays in its social and economic development, and to the cultural exchanges with other Asian and European countries.

Chen proposed that to promote common prosperity, diversity and disparity between different Asian and European civilizations should be fully respected, and equal and reciprocal dialogue be carried out to enhance their mutual understanding.

In addition, she said, Asian and European countries should further cultural exchanges on the official level, encourage and support cultural officials and experts to have more exchanges and consultations.

With the theme of "unity in diversity", the two-day conference was initiated by China at the fourth ASEM summit in Copenhagen in 2002. Denmark, France, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore were the co-proposers. It was the first culture ministerial meeting within the framework of ASEM, and also the largest of its kind ever held in China.

The opening ceremony was chaired by Chinese Cultural Minister Sun Jiazheng. Ministers from the five co-proposer nations also addressed the ceremony.
 
(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2003)