Singaporean expert: Countries with different systems can cooperate through dialogue

Source: Xinhua | 10-23-2008 14:07

SINGAPORE, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Countries with different systems and civilizations can enjoy cooperation and live together in harmony through high-level dialogue such as the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) to take place in Beijing on Oct. 24-25, a well-known Singaporean expert has said.

As a result of the rapid development of regionalism and globalization in recent years, contact and inter-reliability between Asia and Europe have increased, Zheng Yongnian, director of the East Asian Institute of the National University of Singapore, said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

"In fact, we are now living in a global village. The countries in both Asia and Europe need each other. There exist confrontation and cooperation at the same time," said Zheng, who was born in China and has studied and worked in Asia and Europe for years.

"If they want to live in harmony, they have no choice but to do everything in the spirit of seeking common points while reserving difference, expanding consensus and facilitating cooperation," the director said.

Seeing ASEM as "a useful platform and bridge," Zheng said that the ASEM, established in 1996, has yielded notable results in promoting political dialogue, economic cooperation and social and cultural exchanges, among others.

Zheng pointed out that Asia and Europe, despite their different levels of development, have great potential in further cooperating in fields such as food and energy security, climate change, anti-terrorism, trade and investment.

They can learn from each other as both sides have their strong points and are complementary in many aspects, Zheng said, adding that it is necessary for the two continents to expand cooperation for win-win results.

Zheng stressed the importance of political will and resolution in enhancing mutual understanding, deepening cooperation through substantive dialogue and believes that Asia and Europe can address the existing problems and further cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

As to the current financial crisis, which has had a serious impact on the world economy, Zheng said that both Asia and Europe should study ways of how to work together to help tackle the crisis and turn it into an opportunity to promote mutually beneficial cooperation to a new high.

Zheng emphasized that it is time for the international community to reform the global financial system, adding that both Asia and Europe should have a say in this matter.

Zheng praised China's responses to the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and the current global financial storm, saying that China prevented its currency from depreciation in 1997 and had pledged this time to continuously maintain the stability of its financial and capital market.

"I agree with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's speech that China's best contribution to the current global financial crisis is to keep the country's economy humming. If China concentrates on growing its economy through fiscal and monetary policies, it will be a huge contribution to handling the current financial crisis," the director said.

Zheng expressed confidence that as an active advocator and constructive participant of Asia-Europe cooperation, China can enhance dialogue with European and Asian countries on major regional and international issues and join hands with them in facing challenges.

Editor:Zhang Ning