China expects East Asia-Latin America co-op to gain momentum

BEIJING, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- China expects good results from the foreign ministers' meeting of a forum between East Asia and Latin America in Tokyo starting Saturday.

"We believe the upcoming meeting will help the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) gain momentum and vitality," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu said in a regular briefing.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will attend the fourth foreign ministers' meeting of FEALAC to be held on the weekend.

The international financial crisis and economic downturn, environment, sustainable development, social harmony and the forum's development, would be the focus, said Jiang.

Initiated in 1999, the forum is an association of 33 countries from East Asia and Latin America which provides a channel for official and regular dialogue between the two regions.

"As the only official political association for East Asia and Latin America, the forum has played a positive role in developing the two regions' understanding and deepening cooperation," Jiang said.

Jiang said the meeting would adopt a declaration.

China has played an active part in the forum, having hosted economic and trade, culture and education events, Jiang said.

"We would like to work with other parties in the forum to benefit the peoples of both regions," Jiang said.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang is expected to hold bilateral talks with his foreign counterparts. Jiang confirmed the meetings with foreign ministers of Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Japan and the Republic of Korea.