BEIJING, May 8 -- Asian countries should continue to deal with threats and challenges in the Asian way, a Chinese diplomat said on Thursday.

Vice Foreign Minister Cheng Guoping made the comment at a forum about the Fourth Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) from May 20 to 21 in Shanghai.

Though it has become a major driving force behind global economic growth and progress of civilizations in the 21st century, the continent is still faced with many difficulties and challenges, he said.

Asia is confronted with multiple issues, rampant terrorists, separatist and extremist forces, drug making and trafficking and transnational crimes, as well as maritime, environmental, energy and other non-traditional security challenges, according to the vice minister

"There is still a long way to go to build mutual trust among Asian countries and establish regional security," Cheng said.

In the past, Asian countries have resolved many disputes through consultation on an equal footing, mutual understanding and accommodation and seeking common ground while shelving differences, thus setting a good example of state-to-state relations and regional security cooperation, he said.

"In the future, we should continue to deal with threats and challenges in the Asian way," Cheng said.

As an important multilateral platform to discuss security issues in Asia, CICA has "enormous development potential", he said.

CICA has provided a preliminary structure for the continent's countries to lead Asian affairs and achieve Asia's security, Cheng said.

China is CICA chair from 2014 to 2016. CICA has 24 member states and 13 observer states and organizations.