BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will attend the ninth Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers' Meeting as guest of his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Gia Khiem.

    Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu made the announcement at a regular press briefing here on Tuesday.

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

    Ma said China expects the meeting to turn the achievements of the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting held in Beijing last year and its follow-up proposals into practice, and send to the world a strong signal of Asia-Europe bond in tackling the global downturn.

    "We also hope the meeting would help enhance trust and cooperation between the two continents, and push forward Asia-Europe partnership," he added.

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