By NNN-VNA,
Beijing : Chinese President Hu Jintao on Saturday made a five-point proposal for Asian countries to increase cooperation.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference, President Hu said Asia remains one of the world’s most dynamic regions while it also faces some challenges.
To achieve this goal, the President called on Asian countries to take five steps, namely enhancing political mutual trust, deepening economic cooperation, meeting challenges together, increasing cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and keeping to the policy of openness.
According to the President, the region should seek common ground and resolve disputes and differences through dialogue and consultation.
The Asian countries should strengthen coordination of macro-economic policies and jointly uphold financial, energy and food security, step up cooperation in poverty alleviation, narrow gaps in development and promote common development and prosperity in the region, he said.
President Hu stressed cooperation in counter-terrorism and non-proliferation and in fighting transnational crimes, illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
He said the region should increase cooperation in disaster prevention, strengthen capacity for tackling climate change and promote exchange and cooperation in environmental protection and the proper use of water resources.
“We should draw on the development practices of other regions and use platforms such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Asia-Europe Meeting, Forum for East Asia and Latin America Cooperation, and Asia-Middle East Dialogue to enhance dialogue and cooperation with other regions,” President Hu said.
The BFA, annually held in Boao of south China’s island province of Hainan, was established in 2001 as a platform for high-level interaction between leaders from Asia and the world.