On January 16, 2010, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi attended the fourth Foreign Ministerial Meeting of the Forum for East Asian-Latin American Cooperation (FEALAC) in Tokyo, Japan. Yang delivered a keynote speech entitled Enhance Asian-Latin American Cooperation for Common Development at the meeting.

Yang said that currently, the world continues to be undergoing complicated and profound changes, world multi-polarization and economic globalization are deepening and the international pattern is undergoing tremendous changes and adjustments. It is of great significance that Asian and Latin American countries have an in-depth exchange of views on issues of common concern including the global financial crisis, environment and sustainable development and social development and discuss important matters for future cooperation and development, said Yang. To this end, he raised the following proposals.

First, enhance cooperation to expedite the recovery and growth of the world economy. All countries in the two regions should maintain consistency and stability in macroeconomic policies, take further measures to promote their own economic growth and expand consumption and domestic demand. They should advance the reform of the international financial system, improve international economic governance and resolutely oppose and resist protectionism in all forms. The countries in the two regions should pay earnest attention to the serious difficulties and crises that developing countries, especially the least-developed ones are faced with and implement their commitments in development aid, trade finance and concessional loans as soon as possible.

Second, facilitate coordination in a joint effort to promote environment and sustainable development. All countries need to develop energy-saving and environment-friendly mode of production, lifestyles and consumption patterns to achieve coordination of economic growth, social development and environmental protection. China supports the consensus reflected in the Copenhagen agreement and will earnestly implement its own commitments and continue to support the negotiation process of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change as well as the UN’s leading role in this regard. China is ready to work with other parties to make unremitting efforts for and active contributions to tackling climate change.

Third, enhance co-ordination and strive to advance cooperation in social areas. All countries in the two regions should optimize the industrial structure and the quality of economic development, raise the employment level of the whole society and improve the ability to withstand crises and risks. They should improve the social security network, focus efforts to address issues concerning people's livelihood such as education, medical care, old age pension and housing.

As the FEALAC conforms to the historical trend and keeps pace with the time, the forum should be based on mutual understanding, focus on practical cooperation and aim to meet global challenges, Yang said. China attaches great importance to and has taken an active part in the exchanges and cooperation of the forum in various areas, he said. Over the past 10 years, China has staged cooperative programs of various forms in a host of areas, which help promote mutual understanding and advance practical cooperation. China is ready to launch forums on the subjects of bio-energy, medium-sized and small enterprises, finance, agriculture and culture as well as training programs under the framework of the forum in a bid to make new contributions to cooperation between the two regions and the forum’s development, he said.