The world's security situation is undergoing profound changes and against such a backdrop, it is not only vital but pressing for Asia and Europe to enhance security exchanges and cooperation, said a Chinese vice foreign minister in Beijing Thursday.  

In a keynote speech delivered to a multilateral conference on Asia-Europe security cooperation that opened Thursday, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui said profound changes are taking place in the global security situation.

There are not only military conflicts arising from territorial, resources and ethical contradictions, but increasingly more unconventional threats to security such as terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, organized transnational crimes and the spread of new diseases, he said.

Besides, as economic globalization develops and countries' mutual interdependence deepens, security problems are no longer confined or isolated and their influences are becoming ever more complicated, Zhang said.

"A comprehensive solution for security concerns is called for. Military means alone can no longer meet the challenges and extreme use of force will only bring more turmoil to the world," he said.

He said facing the new security situation, enhancing cooperation is the only choice for countries. He suggested that Asia and Europe cooperate in the following areas.

First, they should stick to multilateralism and strengthen international cooperation and coordination.

Secondly, regional conflicts should be resolved through just and rational means, and countries should encourage mutual understanding and dialogue instead of fueling confrontations between different civilizations.

Thirdly, political, economic, diplomatic, military and legal means should be employed to cope with security challenges instead of resorting to force only.

Fourthly, terrorism in all forms should be opposed, and in the anti-terrorism campaign a double standard should not be allowed, nor should terrorism be related to any particular nation, ethnic group or religion.

And lastly, the issue of development should be addressed vigorously and the wealth gap should be narrowed.

The vice minister said China has been actively advocating and participating in international security cooperation and is willing to work with other Asian and European countries to safeguard world peace, stability and development.

Co-organized by the China Institute of International Studies, a think-tank of China's foreign ministry, and the Asia-Europe Foundation, the only permanent organ of the Asia-Europe Meeting, the two-day conference gathered over 60 eminent security scholars, researchers and policy-makers from 25 Asian and European nations.

(Xinhua News Agency April 23, 2004)