On June 6 and 7, 2011, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met respectively with EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy High Representative and Vice President of European Commission Catherine Ashton, Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, Kim Sung Hwan, the foreign minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK), Polish Foreign Minister Rodoslaw Sikorski, Mongolian Foreign Minister Zandanshatar Gombojav and Singaporean Foreign Minister Kasiviswanathan Shanmugam on the sidelines of the 10th ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Hungary.
In Yang's meeting with Vice President of European Commission Catherine Ashton, he said that China is willing to make joint efforts with the EU to well prepare the 14th China-EU summit, make pragmatic planning for economic cooperation, enhance humanities exchanges as well as coordination and cooperation in international affairs and continuously push forward the China-EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Yang said that China and the EU, by adhering to the principles of mutual respect and treating each other on an equal footing, should work to expand the positive aspects in bilateral relations, deal with differences in an appropriate way, maintain the overall situation of Sino-EU relations, and make joint efforts to tackle international challenges.
Ashton noted the increasing coordination and consensus between the EU and China through their exchange of high-level visits and strategic dialogues. She expressed the hope that China will achieve even greater development and that China's 12th Five-Year Plan and the EU's "2020 Strategy" will create more opportunities for bilateral cooperation.
In the meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, Yang said that high-level visits between the two countries have given a new impetus into bilateral relations. Under the new circumstances, Sino-Australian relations face new development opportunities, he said. The two sides should continue to promote bilateral relations from a strategic height and a long-term perspective, actively implement the consensus reached by their leaders, strengthen dialogue, and deepen cooperation so as to elevate Sino-Australian relations up to a new level on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.
Rudd said both sides have made fruitful achievements in various fields in recent years and that China's efforts to accelerate the transformation of economic development mode will bring more opportunities for bilateral relations. Australia is ready to work with China to continuously expand bilateral cooperation area and create new highlights.
In a separate meeting with Kim Sung Hwan, the foreign minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK), Yang made positive comments on the favorable exchanges and cooperation, as well as the good communication and coordination between the two countries in both bilateral and multilateral fields. Yang said that China is willing to make joint efforts with ROK to enhance high-level exchanges, deepen economic and trade cooperation, and accelerate the launch of free trade area talks. He urged both sides to take the opportunity of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties next year to further build up friendly feelings between both peoples and push the ties to a higher level.
Kim said ROK is satisfied with the development of bilateral relations, and hopes to further enhance the visits and communication between the leaders of both sides and deepen their partnership of bilateral strategic cooperation.
Yang and Kim also exchanged views on the situation of the Korean Peninsula. They agreed that efforts should be made to maintain the peace and stability in the peninsula and Northeast Asia.
During Yang's meeting with Polish Foreign Minister Rodoslaw Sikorski, he said China and Poland share traditional friendship and bilateral ties have made new progress in recent years. Since the establishment of friendly cooperative partnership, bilateral exchanges and cooperation in all areas have been increasing with deepening mutual understanding. Both sides should further enhance high-level visits, expand economic and trade cooperation, expand humanities contacts and deepen international cooperation so as to push forward China-Poland, China-EU relations.
Sikorski said bilateral relations are developing well, and that Poland is ready to further strengthen bilateral ties in economy, trade and other sectors and play a positive role in deepening EU-China ties.
In the meeting with Mongolian Foreign Minister Zandanshatar Gombojav, Yang said China and Mongolia are important neighbors to each other and bilateral ties have been developing well. Yang told Gombojav that China has always attached great importance to Sino-Mongolian relations and is willing to make joint efforts with the Mongolian side to further promote their bilateral relations. The two foreign ministers exchanged views mainly on issues including the recent exchange of high-level visits.
During a meeting with Singaporean Foreign Minister Kasiviswanathan Shanmugam, Yang said that China regards Singapore as an important partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and that China would like to further develop bilateral relations and work with Singapore to further promote China-ASEAN relations as well as the peace, stability and development of East Asia.
Shanmugam said bilateral ties have deepened with an increasing of common interests. Singapore believes that China's development is conducive to ASEAN countries, and that Singapore will remain committed to strengthening its relations with China and promoting ASEAN-China cooperation.