On October 31, 2012, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a briefing for foreign and Chinese media. Assistant Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu and Deputy Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs Yang Jian introduced the background, main activities and major significance of Premier Wen Jiabao's attendance of the 9th Asia-Europe Meeting Summit of Heads of State and Government (ASEM9) and his official visit to Laos. They also answered questions from Chinese and foreign journalists. Tian Qi, Deputy Director-General of the Information Department, hosted the briefing.

I. Concerning Premier Wen Jiabao's Attendance of ASEM9

At the invitation of Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, Premier Wen Jiabao will attend the 9th ASEM Summit held in Vientiane, Laos, on November 5 to 6. Under the theme, "Friends for Peace, Partners for Prosperity", the summit will discuss the economic and financial situation, the Asian-European social and cultural cooperation, the future development direction of ASEM, as well as global and regional issues. The summit will publish "ASEM Chairman's Statement" and the "Vientiane Declaration on Strengthening Partnership for Peace and Development", which will mainly include the contents such as strengthening the Asia-Europe economic and financial cooperation, promoting political dialogue, advancing Asia-Europe social and cultural exchanges, and the future development direction of ASEM. Bangladesh, Switzerland, and Norway will be formally admitted as new members of ASEM at the summit. With the expansion of membership to 51, the regional and international influence of ASEM will be further enhanced, according to Ma Zhaoxu.

Ma said that ASEM is an important platform for Asian and European countries to increase understanding, expand consensus and deepen cooperation. At present, the international situation keeps undergoing complex and profound changes and the world economic recovery is difficult and tortuous. The major Asian economies have maintained a good momentum of development. Europe is making efforts to deal with the sovereign debt crisis, continues to push forward the integration process and pays more attention to developing cooperative relations with Asia. In such a context, the will of Asian and European countries to strengthen cooperation continues to increase. At this summit, Asian and European countries expect to exchange views on economic and financial situation and explore ways to further enhance mutual trust, strengthen cooperation in various fields and jointly cope with global challenges. ASEM is facing new opportunities for development.

Ma further noted that ASEM is a high-level, large-scale, inter-governmental dialogue and cooperation forum between Asia and Europe, which aims to establish a new type comprehensive partnership between Asia and Europe through dialogue and cooperation. Since its establishment, ASEM is progressing smoothly and has achieved positive results with the exchanges and cooperation in the three pillars: political dialogue, economic and trade cooperation, cooperation in socio-cultural and other fields.

Ma said that China is an active advocate and an important promoter of the ASEM process. The state leaders of China attended all the ASEM summits and put forward nearly 50 Asia-Europe cooperation initiatives. China hosted the seventh ASEM Summit in Beijing in October 2008, when the financial crisis just broke out and China called on ASEM to send out an important signal of Asia and Europe joining hands to overcome difficulties to the international community. Premier Wen will put forward China's important initiatives on further promoting cooperation between Asia and Europe at this summit.

Ma pointed out that the summit is an important opportunity for Asia and Europe to further build consensus and strengthen cooperation. China expects the summit to achieve results in the following four aspects centering on the theme of cooperation:

1. To consolidate the ever-closer Asia-Europe economic partnership and promote comprehensive, sustainable, balanced development of the Asian and European economies and the global economy. China hopes that the participants will have an in-depth exchange of views on the global economic and financial situation, strengthen coordination of macroeconomic policies, jointly oppose trade protectionism, promote the reform of international economic governance and financial systems and deliver a positive message of Asia and Europe joining hands to promote the development of the world economy to the international community.

2. To establish a more stable strategic mutual trust and lay a good foundation for Asian and European countries to deepen cooperation and address common challenges. The parties should follow the spirit of equal treatment, mutual respect, and consensus and the principle of non-interference in each other's internal affairs, seek common ground while reserving differences, strengthen dialogue, enhance mutual understanding and cooperation in international and regional affairs, and jointly create a stable environment for the peace and prosperity of Asia and Europe.

3. To deepen pragmatic cooperation in various fields and enhance ASEM's role and influence. ASEM should further tap the potentials for cooperation between Asia and Europe and encourage the Asian and European countries, based on their development strategies, to strengthen pragmatic cooperation in various fields including economic, trade, fiscal and financial cooperation, scientific and technological innovation, interconnectivity, human resource development, education and culture, explore innovative forms of cooperation, establish closer ties of interests between Asia and Europe, and provide a new impetus for the Asian and European countries to achieve growth, increase employment and promote stability.

4. To focus on the future development of the Asia-Europe Meeting and lay the foundation for Asia-Europe cooperation at a higher level. In the context that the ASEM membership is growing and the areas of cooperation keep expanding, ASEM should make full use of existing resources and facilities and take an integrated approach to properly handle the dialectical relationship between ASEM enlargement and efficiency, current development and long-term development, strengthen the mechanism building and provide strong institutional guarantee for the long-term development of Asia-Europe cooperation.

Ma said that at the summit, Premier Wen will elaborate on China's views on the world economic and financial situation and the current economic situation of China and China's recommendations on strengthening Asia-Europe cooperation for the steady growth of the world economy. He will also put forward related initiatives on promoting cooperation between Asia and Europe and exchange views with related parties on global issues of common concern. During the summit, Premier Wen will meet with leaders of some countries and exchange views with them on bilateral relations and major international and regional issues of common concern.

Ma concluded that Premier Wen's attendance of the Ninth ASEM Summit will promote Asian and European countries to build consensus and strengthen cooperation and will push forward the continuous development of friendly and cooperative relations between China and relevant countries. He also expressed the hope and belief that with the concerted efforts of all parties, the summit will achieve positive results.

II. Concerning Premier Wen's Visit to Laos

Yang Jian said that it is the third visit to Laos by Premier Wen during his term of office. The Sino-Lao relations have maintained a good momentum. Since the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries in 2009, the two countries have maintained frequent high-level exchanges and the economic and trade cooperation has been growing rapidly. China ranked among the top in terms of investment to Laos. From January to September 2012, the bilateral trade volume exceeded $1.2 billion, a year-on-year growth of 38.6%. The cooperation between the two countries in agriculture, science & technology, education and other fields continued to deepen. The leaders of the two countries reached a broad consensus on consolidating and developing the friendly relations.

During the visit, Premier Wen will meet with Choummaly Sayasone, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (PRP) and Lao President and hold talks with Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong to exchange views with them on deepening bilateral pragmatic cooperation in various fields and international and regional issues of common concern, said Yang Jian.