NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar (Reuters) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) foreign ministers’ meeting on Monday in Myanmar’s capital Nay Pyi Taw.
In his address to the meeting, Wang said the ASEM represents a new path for international relations and communications among countries.
Wang said the Communist Party of China successfully held its 19th National Congress last month, mapping out a grand blueprint for China’s development in the next 30 years. China that has entered a new era will foster closer connections with the world and share the destiny with all other countries.
China will continue to cooperate closely with all parties in Asia and Europe, and jointly strive for a brighter future.
The ASEM represents a new path for countries to get associated, and features the practice of pursuing dialogue rather than confrontation, forging partnerships instead of alliances.
It has maintained stability in Asia and Europe in general, said Wang.
The ASEM members have contributed to the holistic Asia-Europe development by jointly participating in and promoting the process of globalization, and expanding global trade and investment, he said.
Based on diversified civilizations of Asia and Europe, the ASEM members have conducted civilized dialogues and exchanges to draw peoples closer, adhered to multilateralism and committed themselves to improving and reforming the system of global governance so as to deal with challenges through cooperation, Wang said.
The Chinese foreign minister put forward a three-point proposal for future Asia-Europe cooperation.
First, he suggested that concerted efforts be made to uphold regional peace and stability, citing traditional and non-traditional security challenges relatively concentrated in Asia and Europe.
Second, Wang called on Asian and European countries to join hands to tap new growth drivers.
Third, he proposed the countries work together to explore sustainable governance models.
The Chinese foreign minister met with EU’s foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, German Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, and his counterparts from Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore, Malta, Norway and Luxembourg on the sidelines of the ASEM meeting.