China's top diplomat Wang Yi calls for strengthening UN in talks with foreign officials

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday called for efforts to revitalize and strengthen the United Nations as he met with foreign officials on the sidelines of a UN Security Council high-level meeting in New York.

During talks with his Thai counterpart, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Wang said that China applauds Thailand's greater role on the international stage.

The Chinese side appreciates Thailand's firm commitment to the one-China principle, and is ready to enhance high-level exchanges with the Thai side, he said, calling for the earlier formulation of a new action plan for strategic cooperation.

China supports Thailand and Cambodia in upholding dialogue and consultation to peacefully resolve disputes, and stands ready to continue playing a constructive role in this process, Wang said.

Sihasak, also Thailand's deputy prime minister, said that the world needs rules rather than unilateralism, and stressed the urgent need to jointly safeguard the authority of the United Nations.

During his meeting with Colombian Foreign Minister Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio, Wang said practical cooperation between China and Colombia has achieved fruitful results, especially since Colombia joined the Belt and Road cooperation.

China supports the peace process in Colombia, and appreciates the country's long-term adherence to the one-China principle, he added.

Villavicencio said China is a peace-loving and trustworthy country, and strengthening cooperation with China is the shared choice of various countries in Latin America.

When meeting with Kyrgyz Minister of Foreign Affairs Zheenbek Kulubaev, Wang told him that China opposes any interference in Kyrgyzstan's internal affairs.

China is ready to work with Kyrgyzstan to fully implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, and highly appreciates Kyrgyzstan's constructive role in the China-Central Asia mechanism, Wang said, adding that China will fully support Kyrgyzstan in hosting the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit this year.

Kulubaev said that Kyrgyzstan firmly supports China on issues concerning China's core interests such as Taiwan, Xinjiang and Hong Kong.

During talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Jeyhun Bayramov, Wang said China is willing to work with Azerbaijan to advance Belt and Road cooperation, share development opportunities, and strengthen multilateral coordination, so as to better support the modernization efforts of both countries.

He added that China will fully support Azerbaijan in its role as the rotating chair of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia.

Bayramov said Azerbaijan is willing to elevate the comprehensive strategic partnership with China to a new level.

During a meeting with his Argentine counterpart, Pablo Quirno, Wang said China stands ready to work with Argentina to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state and promote the long-term, steady development of the China-Argentina comprehensive strategic partnership.

Noting that China neither seeks geopolitical rivalry nor asks other countries to choose sides, he said China-Argentina cooperation is not directed against any third party, but reflects mutual benefit and win-win cooperation between the two countries.

Quirno expressed gratitude for China's support on the issue of the Malvinas Islands, noting that Argentina will firmly uphold the one-China principle and is willing to strengthen its shared interests with China to benefit the people of both countries and enhance the strategic nature of Argentina-China relations.

During a meeting with Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Petr Macinka, Wang said in the face of current global challenges, major countries, in particular, need to play their due role by taking the lead in upholding the international rule of law and practicing multilateralism.

They should also take the lead in supporting small and medium-sized countries and in safeguarding peace and stability, he said, noting that this is how major countries should behave.

Macinka expressed willingness to strengthen communication with the Chinese side, enhance mutual trust, gradually bring Czech-China relations back onto the right track, and resume exchanges and cooperation across various fields.

During a meeting with Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha, Wang said over the nearly nine years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Panama, bilateral relations have generally progressed smoothly, bringing tangible benefits to the Panamanian people.

The facts have fully proved that the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Panama aligns with the long-term interests of both countries and represents the will of the peoples and the trend of the times, said Wang.

Martinez-Acha said that China is an important force in upholding multilateralism and that Panama is also committed to effective multilateralism.

(Cover: The United Nations headquarter in New York City, United States, on April 10, 2026. /VCG)

(With input from Xinhua)