China welcomes and appreciates the decision by the South Asian
Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to accept it as an
observer, said Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing in New Delhi
Tuesday.
"As close neighbors, China and SAARC countries enjoy deep
traditional friendship and there is a strong foundation for
advancing our cooperation," Li said at the opening session of the
14th SAARC summit.
"We all belong to the developing world, are experiencing fast
growth and facing historic opportunities of development. Good
political atmosphere, close geographical location and popular
support will greatly boost China-SAARC cooperation, which serves
our common interests and peace, stability and development of the
region," he said.
The Chinese government follows a policy of building friendship
and partnership with its neighbors, Li told the delegates, saying
that China, which is committed to regional cooperation, follows
closely and supports the SAARC cooperation process.
"A peaceful, stable and prosperous South Asia and a SAARC of
unity, cooperation and progress are in the interests of all
countries in the region and China," he said. "As the biggest
neighbor of South Asia, China hopes that all South Asian countries
will live in harmony and pursue common development and that SAARC
will grow from strength to strength and play a bigger role in
regional and world affairs."
During the two-day summit hosted by India in its capital, eight
SAARC countries will discuss major peace and development issues
including anti-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.
It is the first time in the SAARC history for China, the EU,
Japan, South Korea, and the US to attend the summit as
observers.
(Xinhua News Agency April 3, 2007)
