Wen's trip promotes good neighborliness, regional cooperation: FM

BEIJING, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's attendance at a series of meetings of East Asian leaders and visits to Cambodia and Thailand have consolidated good neighborliness and promoted regional cooperation, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Wednesday.

During his four-day tour, Wen attended the a summit between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a summit between ASEAN and China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and an East Asia Summit in Phnom Penh.

He also paid official visits to Cambodia and Thailand.

PROMOTING REGIONAL COOPERATION

The international situation is undergoing profound and complex changes as the global financial crisis continues to fester and world economy is faced with anemic recovery, said Yang.

East Asia has maintained sound momentum of development, but uncertainty and destabilizing factors are on the rise. It is the common aspiration of the countries in the region to strengthen cooperation, join hands to counter challenges and seek common development, he said.

China has for years worked for East Asian cooperation, thus playing a constructive role.

At the summits, Wen exchanged in-depth views with leaders on the current regional situation and future development of East Asian cooperation, Yang said.

On top of that, Wen expounded on China's position, proposed important initiatives and called on all parties to focus on cooperation and development, he said.

On China-ASEAN cooperation, Wen put forward a set of important principles: all the parties need to stick to mutual respect and mutual trust, pursue good neighborliness, and strengthen security and strategic dialogue and cooperation.

He called on related parties in East Asia to properly handle their differences and disputes in the spirit of seeking consensus through consultation and accommodating each other's concerns.

He also asked the ASEAN partners to work together to face up to the international financial crisis in a bid to promote a long-term high-quality development.

Wen also made important initiatives on carrying forward the China-ASEAN free trade agreement, enhancing cooperation in science and technology, pushing forward interconnectivity projects and boosting social and cultural exchanges.

Wen called on all countries to further enhance crisis management capacity, advance regional economic integration, cooperate on interconnectivity projects so as to create a stable, safe and friendly social environment.