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"Asia-Europe Cooperation Important in New Century": Thai FM
Exchanges and cooperation between Asia and Europe in the new century are important for both continents, said Surakiat Sathirathai, foreign minister of Thailand in an interview with Xinhua Thursday.
"I don't see ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) as a venue for inflicting political pressure on any particular issue or on any country. The momentum of political dialog has to be maintained," said Surakiat, who is in Beijing attending the third ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting, scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
He spelled out three focal points of ASEM, namely, political dialogue, exchange of views and social and economic cooperation. He also noted that the purpose of ASEM lies in the establishment of an all-round partnership between Asia and Europe.
Surakiat expressed appreciation for the Asia-Europe cooperation carried out in science, technology and human resource development, expressing hope that such cooperation will expand into more and more industries.
In the ASEM framework, bilateral ties between Thailand and China as well as other Asian countries will be strengthened, said Surakiat. He recalled the meeting between Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra during the Fortune forum in Hong Kong earlier this month, and Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji's trip to five Asian nations, Thailand included, just a few days ago.
"Our relations with China is very special indeed and Thailand is willing to expand cooperation with China in all sectors," Surakiat said.
He expressed the conviction that the friendship and cooperation between Thailand and China will be conducive to the peace and development of the region and the world at large.
At the end of the interview, Surakiat wished that the third ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting will facilitate the next foreign ministers' meeting and the ASEM summit scheduled for year 2002.
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