From August 19 to 20, 2004, the Ministerial Meeting of the Second Asian-African Sub-Regional Organizations Conference (AASROC) was held in Durban, South Africa. Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the meeting as head of the Chinese delegation and expounded the views and proposals of China on the promotion of Asia-Africa cooperation in the new circumstances.

Wang Yi noted that "Bandung Spirit" is not only an invaluable treasure for people in Asia and Africa, but also an inexhaustible powerhouse for greater solidarity and cooperation between Asia and Africa in the new circumstances. The Chinese government supports the process of AASROC, and actively echoes the initiative to build an Asian-African New Strategic Partnership.

Wang Yi stressed that AASROC, which should be an open and accommodating conference, needs to follow the principles of gradual and orderly progress, stress on practical results, mutual benefit and seeking win-win results for all, and do the following properly:

First, to guide the institutional building of AASROC and the establishment of the Asian-African New Strategic Partnership in the spirit of "solidarity, equality and cooperation" advocated in the Bandung Conference.

Second, to respect diversity among civilizations and the right of all countries to choose their own roads to development independently, and to jointly promote multilateralism and more democratized international relations.

Third, to step up exchanges and mutual learning in order to share each other's development experience and achievements and promote all-directional cooperation. It is important to make the existing cooperation between countries and regional organizations an important ingredient of the Asian-African cooperation framework.

Fourth, to expand exchanges at various levels to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between Asian and African peoples.

Fifth, to strengthen consultation and coordination in regional and international affairs to jointly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the developing countries.

Sixth, to open up oneself to the rest of the world to learn from and draw upon advanced achievements of the present-day civilizations. We should vigorously promote South-South cooperation and North-South dialogue with countries in other regions and seek common development by seizing the opportunities presented by globalization.

Wang Yi said that China has all along been vigorously advocating and faithfully acting on Asian-African solidarity and cooperation. In the old days, China made historic contributions to the success of the Bandung Conference. Today, China is, as always, paying close attention to and conscientiously promoting Asian-African cooperation. China stands ready to work together with other countries in Asia and Africa to carry forward the Bandung Spirit for the overall rejuvenation of the two continents.

During the meeting, Wang Yi also met with foreign ministers or heads of delegation of India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Mozambique and exchanged views with them on issues of common interest.

AASROC was established in 2003 and China is a formal member of the organization.