The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) will promote cultural exchanges between Asia and Europe and enhance the understanding and friendship between their peoples, said Asian and European culture ministers in Beijing Wednesday.
Portuguese Culture Minister Pedro Manuel da Cruz Roseta said at the ASEM Conference on Cultures and Civilizations that ASEM ties the two continents together and the meeting serves as a good occasion for countries to explore cultural diversity and broaden their horizons.
The topic of protecting cultural heritage through the ASEM mechanism has also aroused wide attention from attendees.
Lee Chang-dong, minister of culture and tourism from the Republic of Korea, urged experienced nations to help others in this area and suggested building a website for countries to exchange experience.
Aurea Rolden, director-general of the department of cooperation and cultural communication of Spain's Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, proposed that the ASEM members lay down a special framework for cultural cooperation and make stipulations for protection of cultural diversity.
"Then we will not take our own culture as a defense against other cultures and thus impair the peace and our common development," Rolden said.
Pham Quang Nghi, Vietnam's minister of culture and information, said cultural cooperation is also a pillar in Asia-Europe cooperation. ASEM members have taken many concrete actions in protecting cultural heritage.
British Ambassador to China Christopher Owen Hum said the ASEM framework is conducive for protection and exchanges of the existing cultures, and all countries should assure the smooth cultural exchanges and make culture become the source of social communication.
He hoped ASEM members continue to push forward the comprehensive cooperative partnership between Asia and Europe through cultural dialogue and cooperation.
Some 200 representatives from 26 ASEM members are attending the two-day event, the largest culture ministerial meeting ever held in China.
(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2003)
