Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said in Qingdao Monday that the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) reflected the common aspiration of Asian countries to enhance cooperation.

Li made the comment in meeting with foreign ministers of Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, India, Bahrain, Oman, Pakistan, South Korea and Japan, who are in Qingdao to attend the third ACD foreign ministers' meeting slated for Tuesday.

Li said since its launch in 2002, ACD has progressed smoothly, with cooperation among ACD member states in full swing in various areas.

Li expressed his appreciation to the nine Asian countries for their contribution to promoting cooperation within the framework of ACD.

Li also said as the host country of the ACD foreign ministers' meeting, China is willing to work together with other ACD members to secure new achievements at the upcoming meeting.

Meanwhile, the Chinese foreign minister said China is ready to develop good-neighborly relations with the countries and expand and deepen cooperation with them in politics, economy, trade and culture, based on the five principles of peaceful coexistence.

On the Taiwan issue, Li expounded the principled stance of the Chinese government and expressed thanks to the countries for their firm support to China on Taiwan and other issues.

All ministers expressed thanks for the efforts China has made for the third ACD foreign ministers' meeting, saying they believed that the meeting will be crowned a success.

On China's proposal for issuing the Asian Cooperation Declaration and the Qingdao Initiative, two important documents at the meeting, the foreign ministers expressed their approval of the contents in the two documents.

Meanwhile, the foreign ministers spoke highly of the active role China has played in promoting regional cooperation in Asia, saying they are willing to develop comprehensive relations with China, including cooperation of mutual benefit.

On the Taiwan issue, the foreign ministers expressed support for the "one-China" policy and opposition to "Taiwan independence."

(Xinhua News Agency June 22, 2004)