Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong made a four-point proposal in Beijing Friday calling on political parties and leaders of Asian countries to further strengthen cooperation.

Zeng made the proposal in a speech at the opening ceremony of the third International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) that began in Beijing Friday morning. More than 80 delegations from 34 countries attended the conference.

Zeng, also member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and honorary director of the ICAPP organizing committee, said that it is the "historical duty" of all Asian governments and political parties to increase "exchanges, dialogue and cooperation among Asian countries."

"First, we should seize opportunities to continually expand the new channels for regional and multilateral cooperation," Zeng said. "We should improve the mechanisms for dialogue, cooperation and discussion among Asian governments on the basis of the principles of diversification and gradual progress."

He proposed that Asian governments should pay great attention to and make full use of the role of political parties, parliaments and mass organizations in regional dialogue and cooperation.

"Second, we should continue to seek common ground while shelving differences, and constantly open new avenues to find more common ground," Zeng said. "We believe that neither differences in ideology and social systems nor lingering historical problems should be obstacles to increasing regional dialogue and cooperation."

He proposed that Asian governments and political parties seek common ground in a constructive way, and "pursue cooperation instead of confrontation, seek accord through consultation instead of imposing their will on others, reconcile differences instead of causing troubles, work together to become stronger instead of profiting at others' expense, and try to bring about win-win cooperation."

"Third, we should constantly strengthen mutual trust and work hard to find new models for regional security and cooperation," he said.

"We hope that on the basis of the Charter of the United Nations and the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, they (Asian countries) will resolve conflicts through dialogue on an equal footing, eliminate differences through friendly consultation, settle disputes through mutual understanding and accommodation, and work hard to create a political and security environment for our regional development that is peaceful and harmonious."

The fourth point that Zeng proposed was that Asian governments and political parties should focus on working together to become stronger in order to usher in a new stage of reciprocity and common development.

All Asian countries should strengthen economic cooperation, expand mutual investment, increase the flow of technology and personnel, progressively open their markets to each other, gradually eliminate trade barriers, said Zeng.

The conference was the first of its kind hosted by the CPC. The theme of the third ICAPP is "Exchange, Cooperation and Development". Its main topics include "regional security and multilateral cooperation, economic growth and social progress, party building and the national development."

(Xinhua News Agency Sepetember 3, 2004)