Chinese FM meets European, Asian counterparts

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Source: CCTV.com | 05-29-2007 13:06

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (L) attends a press conference following a China-EU troika meeting with the European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner, in Hamburg, Germany, on May 28, 2007.(Xinhua Photo)

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi also met with his counterparts from eight Asian and European countries.

China's Foreign Minister, Yang Jiechi held separate meetings with Pakistani Foreign Minister Kursheed Mehmood Kasuri, Foreign Minister of Thailand Nitya Pibulsonggram, European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner, South Korean Foreign Minister Song Min-soon, British Minister of Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs Ian McCartney, Minister of External Affairs of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee and Latvian Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks.

Ferrero-Waldner was also part of the EU Troika meeting with Yang, as well as German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier whose country holds the rotating EU presidency and EU foreign and security policy chief Javier Solana.

Yang said Europe and China have a lot of common interests and share similar views on many international and regional issues. He said both sides should always seek to expand the cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit and solve disputes through dialogue.

Steinmeier said the EU will hold more talks with China on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement designed to further strengthen bilateral ties. He also said that both sides will hold more talks on climate change and energy security. Meanwhile, Javier Solana stressed that China is an important strategic partner that the west cannot afford to lose.

When meeting with foreign and trade ministers from Asian neighbors, Yang Jiechi reiterated China's foreign policy of peaceful coexistence, cooperation and sustainable mutual development. Yang added that China will pursue a practical and constructive path to promote deeper exchanges and coordination with its strategic partners.

Talks also centered on Iran's nuclear controversy. The Foreign ministers agreed that diplomatic negotiation rather than military action is the only way to solve the nuclear issue with Iran.

Editor:Du Xiaodan