China hopes to achieve more common understanding and closer cooperation at the ninth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu said on Wednesday. Ma made the comments at a press briefing prior to Premier Wen Jiabao\'s attendance of the summit to be held in Vientiane, Laos on Nov.5-6. Themed \"Friends for Peace, Partners for Prosperity\", the meeting will focus on the global economic and financial situation, social and cultural cooperation between Asian and European countries, and the future direction of the ASEM. It will also focus on global and regional issues, Ma said.