Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing reiterated China's support for the strengthening of cooperation in East Asia. He was speaking at the Sixth ASEAN + 3 meeting of foreign ministers from ASEAN, China, South Korea and Japan in Vientiane, Laos on Wednesday.

Li added that ASEAN, as the initiator of East Asian cooperation, should play a major role in boosting cooperation among East Asian nations, which needs to be expanded in various fields under a "win-win" principle with economic cooperation at the core.

The ASEAN + 3 cooperation should co-exist with other Asian cooperation mechanisms, which would boost the common development of the entire region, Li said.

Also on Wednesday, Li met separately with Myanmar's Foreign Minister U Nyan Win, and South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon.

Li and Ban agreed to cooperate in working towards the denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula during this fourth round of six-party talks in Beijing.

(Xinhua News Agency July 28, 2005)