Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said in Kuala Lumpur today that the healthy development of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) should be based on recognition and respect of diversity in the Asia-Pacific region, and achieved at a measured pace through hard work.

 

In his address at the 13th ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Regional Forum Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Li said confidence building should be the underlying theme for the whole development process of the ARF, an official forum for conducting multilateral security dialogue and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

 

Li said multilateral mechanism for security dialogue and cooperation represented by the ARF have played an active role in increasing trust among countries, preparing the countries in the region to meet new security challenges and maintaining regional peace and stability.

 

On the basis of respect for sovereignty, an incremental approach may be taken to explore ways and means of conducting preventive diplomacy and more concrete steps can be taken to foster regional security, he said.

 

Maintaining ASEAN's driving role is essential to ensure ARF's sound growth, Li noted. Under ASEAN's leadership, the ARF should strengthen the chairman's role in line with such effective principles as non-interference, decision-making by consensus and moving at a pace comfortable to all.

 

The ARF should become a pace setter of regional multilateralism by continuing to advocate equality and harmonious coexistence among countries, encouraging and supporting the settlement of rifts and disputes through dialogue, consultation and negotiation, and giving full play to the initiatives of all its members.

 

He called on the ARF to set priorities in light of its own characteristics as the Asia-Pacific is a vast region facing complicated security challenges. The involvement of defense officials in non-traditional security issues such as counter-terrorism, fighting transnational crime and disaster relief should be expanded and direct exchanges between law enforcement authorities of ARF members should be enhanced.

 

China is committed to peaceful development and pursuing a foreign policy of "treating neighbors as friends and partners" and "fostering an amicable, peaceful and prosperous neighborly environment," Li said.

 

China, as a member of the Asia-Pacific community, will continue to expand exchanges and cooperation with other countries in the region and beyond in an equal, open, inclusive and mutually beneficial way, so as to ensure the healthy growth of the ARF, he said.

 

In addition to the 10 ASEAN members -- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, the ARF groups Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, the EU, India, Japan, Mongolia, New Zealand, North Korea, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, Timor Leste and the US.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 28, 2006)