Speaking here as a special representative of President Hu Jintao at a summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-building Measures in Asia (CICA), Dai said peace and development increasingly had been the theme of the world in the 18 years since CICA's creation.

"The world we are living in today is a world of growing diversity, pluralism and multi-polarity. It shall not tolerate any form of hegemony or any single set of values and beliefs. Gone are the days when one, two, or several countries decide the world affairs," Dai said.

Dai called on CICA members to make the best of multilateral cooperation mechanisms to boost interaction and mutual trust in the region, safeguard security and seek development.

He called for a new concept of security featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination among CICA members to advance peace and security in the region. While protecting their own nations, they should respect one another's key concerns and core interests.

Dai called on CICA members to coordinate their efforts to fight terrorism, secessionism, extremism, drug trafficking and cross-border organized crime.

He also proposed CICA countries seek common development and prosperity by strengthening macroeconomic policy coordination, gradually advancing regional cooperation and free trade arrangements, and constantly expanding cooperation in trade, science and technology, investment, energy, resources, transportation and telecommunications.

Dai said CICA states should work together for a harmomius Asia by embracing one another with openness and friendlieness.

China would never seek hegemony in Asia or the world, even after it is developed, and would work with other countries in Asia to advance regional cooperation, security and prosperity, he said.

CICA was established in 1993 as a forum for dialogue and consultations and promotion of confidence building measures among its members on security and development. It now has 20 member countries from East Asia, Central Asia, South East Asia, South Asia and the Middle East.

Editor: Lin Li

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