Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, currently visiting New Delhi,
today announced five proposals for cooperation between China and
the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
"The Chinese government supports the objectives and priority
areas of SAARC," Li said at the 14th SAARC summit opening
ceremony.
"China respects the positions of SAARC's member countries and
will follow the principles of equality and mutual trust across all
areas of exchange and practical cooperation. This will allow China
to contribute with SAARC to peace and development in South Asia,"
he said.
China's proposals include establishing a joint poverty
alleviation mechanism to complete research on models of poverty
alleviation, exploring the possibility of regular China-SAARC
meetings to collaborate on disaster relief.
China also extends an invitation to all SAARC countries to
attend multilateral human resources training programs in China, and
will aim to launch bilateral training programs for all SAARC
countries.
Li also announced that the central government would encourage
Chinese enterprises to invest in SAARC countries and ensure smooth
bilateral development of the infrastructure and energy sectors.
China will further invite a delegation of senior South Asian
diplomats to visit China this year and help move along plans for a
China-SAARC seminar.
During the two-day summit held in New Delhi, the eight SAARC
member states will discuss major peace and development issues
including the regional fight against terrorism, poverty alleviation
and intra-regional free trade.
SAARC, comprising of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the
Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, was established in 1985
back in 1985. It has granted observer status to China, the European
Union, Japan, South Korea, and the United States.
(Xinhua News Agency April 3, 2007)
