Asia-Middle East Dialogue Opens in Egyptian Red Sea Resort

www.chinaview.cn 2008-04-05 15:59:20

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, April 5 (Xinhua) --

The second Asia-Middle East Dialogue (AMED) opened on Saturday in Egyptian Red Sea resort Sharm el-Sheikh in order to foster dialogue and strengthen cooperation between the two regions in political, economic, cultural and scientific fields.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit opened the dialogue as the host of the meeting as well as the new Chairman of the Dialogue, which was attended by foreign ministers, representatives and senior officials from 50 Asian and Middle east countries.

As the outgoing Chairman of the Dialogue, Singaporean Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yong-Boon Yeo, was expected to give statements at the opening session of the Dialogue. Egyptian Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni and Wang Yi, China's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, were also scheduled to make keynote speeches at the session.

Under the theme "Partnership in Action Towards a Better Future", the Dialogue aims to focus on three tracks: political issues; economic issues; as well as social, scientific, and media issues, according to the Dialogue proceedings.

It will address political and economic reforms, governments and civil societies, combating terrorism, expanding trade and investment between the two regions, cooperation between oil producers and consumers, science and technology and IT, human resources development and movement of labor forces, climate change and natural disasters.

At the end of the two-day meeting, participants were expected to sign a declaration of principles on cooperation and friendship, Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki said. The first AMED dialogue was held in Singapore on June 21-22,2005, under the theme of "Common Interests and Common Challenges."

Editor: Du Guodong

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