China will adhere to its neighboring diplomacy of "building
good-neighborly relationships and partnerships" and will work with
Asian countries to maintain regional stability and common
prosperity, said Premier Wen
Jiabao.
Wen's statement was read out at the airport as he arrived in the
capital city of Viet Nam, starting a two-day official visit.
Wen said China and Viet Nam had deepened their political mutual
trust and increasingly expanded ties in different areas under the
guidelines of "long-term stability, future orientation, good
neighborliness and comprehensive co-operation," which also serves
the fundamental interests of the two peoples.
The progressive settlement of the border and territory issue not
only conforms to the fundamental interests of the two countries but
also contributes to regional peace and stability.
Wen will today meet his counterpart Phan Van Khai, President
Tran Duc Luong, National Aeesmbly Chairman Nguyen Van An and
General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party
of Viet Nam Nong Duc Manh.
In Hanoi, Wen will attend the Fifth ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting)
Summit from Friday to Saturday.
He met Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen there last night
and is scheduled to hold one-to-one talks with more leaders during
the summit.
ASEM, an informal process of dialogue and co-operation,
addresses political, economic and cultural issues, with the
objective of strengthening the relationship between Asia and
Europe.
This time, the summit will adopt a declaration on a closer ASEM
economic partnership and a declaration on dialogue among cultures
and civilizations. This will be the first time ASEM members have
made such high-level commitments to beef up economic and cultural
ties between Asia and Europe.
Wu Yikang, an international relations expert with the
Shanghai-based Center of European Studies, said that with the
growing influence of the Asian economy, there will be large
potential for the two continents to enlarge their platform for
closer economic ties.
This summit will also mark its largest enlargement since its
foundation in 1996. It is expected to admit the three remaining
ASEAN countries (Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar) and the 10 new EU
member countries (Hungary, Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, the
Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta.)
Wu regarded the enlargement as a milestone for the ASEM, saying
that the roles of Europe and Asia become more and more
"irreplaceable" in international affairs.
As the host, Hanoi, a city of 1,000-plus square kilometers with
more than 3.5 million population, has tried every possible means to
receive delegations from all 39 countries and regions.
(China Daily October 7, 2004)