ASEAN´s FM discuss regional security ahead of Summit

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-12-2007 08:33

In the lead up to the ASEAN Summit, Foreign ministers from China, Japan and South Korea got together on Thursday. Specifically, they discussed regional security with their Southeast Asian counterparts. They're in the Philippines, where the summit will take place over the weekend.

China's foreign minister, Li Zhaoxing, held talks with his counterparts from the 10-member ASEAN. They focused on how to restart the Six-party talks on denuclearizing the Korean Peninsular.

The ministers were meeting ahead of a weekend summit involving ASEAN leaders and other leaders from China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Speaking after the meeting, Li told reporters that expanding China's cooperation with the region was a top priority especially in the areas of energy security, poverty reduction, aid and women's rights.

Leaders from China, Japan and South Korea will also meet on the sidelines of the summit to hold their first trilateral meeting since Japan's Shinzo Abe became Prime Minister.

Li Zhaoxing, Chinese Foreign Minister, said, "The ASEAN Foreign Ministers want to continue to work hard together to strengthen, expand and raise co-operation with China, Japan and South Korea."

The summit, on the central Philippines resort island of Cebu, was originally scheduled for last month. But it was postponed due to a typhoon.

Editor:Du Xiaodan