Serial summits will be fruitful, FM official

A series of summits to be held in Cebu City of the Philippines will be fruitful, according to Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai.

Cui made the remarks on Wednesday in a briefing on Premier Wen Jiabao's attendance to these summits and Wen's official visit to the host country from Dec.l1 to 14.

The meetings will include the 10th ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) plus Three (China, Japan and the Republic of Korea) summit, the 10th China-ASEAN summit, and the 2nd East Asia Summit, and the 7th annual meeting of leaders of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK).

Cui said this would be the fourth time for Premier Wen to attend such series of summits since 2003.

Cui said the 10th China-ASEAN summit (or 10 Plus 1 summit) will mainly focus on practical cooperation between the two sides.

China would discuss with ASEAN on the pragmatic cooperation for next year and put forward a batch of specific proposals, said Cui, adding that this summit would reflect the friendly relations and the strong development momentum of cooperation between the two sides.

Cui said China would discuss east Asian cooperation at the ASEAN Plus Three (or 10 Plus 3 summit) with other participating countries, and exchange views with them on how to build up an east Asian community through the "10 plus 3" mechanism.

China would highlight proposals on addressing issues related to disaster relief, poverty reduction, women, finance and culture at the summit, Cui added.

At the 2nd East Asia Summit, China would discuss energy security and the future development of the summit itself with other countries so as to make the summit play a constructive and active role in enhancing cooperation in this region. Cui pointed out.

China would release several "principle proposals" on energy, avian flu prevention, education, finance and disaster relief, Cui noted.

On the 7th China, Japan, ROK leaders' meeting, Cui said China is now the coordinating party on the trilateral cooperation and will chair the upcoming meeting.

Cui said, the resumption of the China-Japan-ROK meeting after a one-year break due to "reason that was known to all" is of significant meaning to maintaining and moving forward the trilateral cooperation.

"It is in the common interest of the three countries and conducive to regional development and prosperity", Cui added.

China would exchange views with Japan and the ROK on trilateral cooperation and international and regional issues of common concern, said Cui.

Source: Xinhua