Wang emphasizes cooperation at UN

All parties should make joint efforts to build a Korean Peninsula of peace and stability, complete denuclearization and mutually beneficial cooperation, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday.

"In the course of this year, we've seen important, positive developments on the Korean Peninsula," Wang said at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council at UN headquarters in New York. "Things again have returned to the track of dialogue and negotiation."

Wang said the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea, seizing the opportunity of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, have turned around their relations and opened a new chapter for reconciliation and cooperation.

The DPRK and ROK have achieved an all-around improvement of relations and jointly embarked on making the peninsula a peaceful place free of nuclear weapons and nuclear threats, he added.

China applauds the political decisiveness and courage of the two nations' leaders, Wang said.

China is committed to denuclearization, peace and stability on the peninsula and to resolving issues through dialogue and consultation, he said.

Wang added that the Security Council has the duty and need to send a united and clear message to support and encourage all parties to accelerate the process of political settlement.

On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Wang met with Federica Mogherini, the high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The two diplomats agreed to have regular communications on strategic issues.

Wang said both sides advocate multilateralism, support the UN's role and favor solving international conflicts through peaceful means.

"It's our responsibility to maintain, consolidate and develop the relationship between China and the European Union," Wang said.

China and the EU should coordinate closely to ensure the upcoming Asia-Europe Meeting sends a collective voice upholding multilateralism and safeguarding international law and the international order, he said.

The EU said it will promote connectivity between Europe and Asia in an open and inclusive way, consistent with China's advocacy of cooperation through the Belt and Road Initiative, Wang said.

China welcomes the EU to take an active part in construction of the Belt and Road and is willing to consider aligning the BRI with the EU's connectivity strategy and implement cooperation plans as soon as possible, he added.

Also on Thursday, the foreign ministers of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa vowed to uphold multilateralism, safeguard international law and rules, object to unilateralism and protectionism, and push globalization toward more balanced, just and inclusive development.

The ministers, meeting on the sidelines of the General Assembly, unanimously agreed to implement agreements made at BRICS summits, further strengthen strategic communication, deepen pragmatic cooperation, enhance people-to-people exchanges and implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

At a breakfast meeting between foreign ministers of the permanent members of the UN Security Council and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday, Wang said China supports multilateralism and the United Nations' central role in international affairs.

On the same day, Wang also met with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Syrian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Walid Muallem.