China calls for harmonious Asia

Asian countries should make a concerted effort to build Asia into a harmonious continent in the interests of all sides with lasting peace and common prosperity, a senior Chinese official says.

Vice Foreign Minister Cheng Guoping made the call Wednesday when addressing the fourth foreign ministers' meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), held in the Kazakh capital of Astana.

The international community should set up and implement a new concept on security, cooperation, development and civilization featuring mutual trust and mutual benefit, equality and coordination, respect of the diversity of civilizations, and pursuit of common prosperity, Cheng said.

In his opening speech at the meeting, which also marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of the CICA, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev spoke highly of the forum's progress in safeguarding regional security and stability, as well as promoting trust and coordination among its member nations.

The meeting also issued a declaration in which participants voiced support for China's rotating presidency of the CICA from 2014 to 2016.

Representatives from 24 CICA member nations, 12 observers and international organizations participated in the meeting.

The CICA, first proposed by Nazarbayev in October 1992, is an intergovernmental forum for enhancing cooperation by establishing measures to promote peace, security and stability in Asia.