China is willing to explore practical cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in immigration management to promote sustainable development of the world, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang during a meeting with the IOM Director General, António Vitorino on Monday in Beijing.

Praising Vitorino's work, Qin said the cooperation between China and the IOM has been deepened and strengthened.

Noting that it is imperative to improve global migration governance nowadays, Qin said the international community should protect the legitimate rights and interests of migrants, uphold the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, view migrants in a more open, inclusive and just manner, and oppose incitement of racial discrimination and hatred.

Qin added we should uphold multilateral cooperation, strengthen dialogue and consultation, support IOM's leading role in global migration governance, implement the Global Compact on Migration, and promote safe, orderly and normal flows of migrants.

The Global Compact on Migration is the first-ever inter-governmentally negotiated UN agreement on a common approach to international migration.

Appreciating IOM's support of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Global Development Initiative (GDI), Qin said China welcomes the IOM to participate in the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) to jointly make greater contributions to the development of the global migration cause.

China is willing to explore practical cooperation with IOM on managing immigrants and promoting the orderly flow of immigrants, Qin added.

For his part, Vitorino praised China's active role in global migration governance, saying that the UN migrant organization opposes racial discrimination, adheres to multilateralism and supports China-proposed GDI, GSI and GCI.

The IOM is ready to strengthen cooperation with China to implement the Global Compact on Migration, promote South-South cooperation and make joint efforts to realize the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Vitorino said.