BEIJING, May 12 (Xinhua) -- China expects the ninth Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers' Meeting to send to the world a strong signal of Asia-Europe bonds on tackling global downturn, said a Foreign Ministry spokesman here on Tuesday.

    Spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told a regular press briefing that China attaches great importance to the meeting, and will send a high-profile delegation for it.

    The ninth meeting, slated for May 25-26 in Hanoi of Vietnam, will focus on measures to deepen Asia-Europe partnership and address the global financial crisis as well as other global challenges.

    "We hope the meeting would help turn the documentary achievements of the ASEM and its follow-up proposals into practice, further enhance trust and cooperation between the two continents, and push forward Asia-Europe partnership," Ma said.

    The meeting is the first gathering of foreign ministers and delegations from 45 ASEM members, according to the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry.