Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Sunday urged Asian and European countries to strengthen cooperation in all areas in a bid to lift Asia-Europe cooperation to a new high.

"Asia is by far the most dynamic economy in the world while theEU the world's largest developed economy. Their cooperation to mutual benefit has truly broad prospects," Wen said in a keynote speech delivered at the Sixth ASEM Finance Ministers' Meeting (FMM), which opened Sunday.

"The founding of ASEM is a strategic choice of Asia and Europe to step up exchanges and cooperation under the new international situation," Wen said, adding that since the first ASEM meeting in 1996, Asia and Europe have been keen to conduct political dialogue,economic cooperation and scientific, technological and cultural exchanges, which has helped the growth of the new ASEM comprehensive partnership and contributed significantly to world peace and common development.

The Chinese premier expressed the belief that the enlarged ASEM, whose member countries have two fifths of the world's population and over half of the world's total gross domestic product (GDP), will play an even greater role in world affairs.

More than 200 representatives from the 39 parties of the ASEM gathered in the northern China port city to attend the one-day Sixth ASEM FMM, the first of an enlarged ASEM, which Wen said would be a good opportunity for participants to explore strategies for ASEM economic and financial cooperation under the new situation and to discuss the major issues in the world economy.

Two documents -- a Chairman's Statement and a Tianjin Initiative on Closer ASEM Economic and Financial Cooperation, are expected to be adopted at the meeting which focuses on the theme to "promote closer Asia-Europe economic and financial cooperation."

Source: Xinhua