Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has met with the president of the UN General Assembly, Miroslav Lajcak. On Tuesday, both sides expressed support for multilateralism, and the role of the UN in maintaining international peace and promoting development. Our reporter Zou Yun has the story.

A firm handshake in a sign of support for a multilateral system. China's top diplomat Wang Yi says China stands behind multilateralism and the role of the United Nations in preserving peace and tackling global challenges. Wang also applauded Miroslav Lajcak's efforts in pushing for UN reforms and promoting common development.

WANG YI CHINESE STATE COUNCILOR & FOREIGN MINISTER "We can say now that you are a successful president of the UN General Assembly. You have left your mark in the UN, representing the international responsibility of your home country Slovakia, and building a good example from that."

Lajcak said the international community welcomes China's increasingly important role in global affairs, and the country has now emerged as one of the main contributors to the UN budget and financing for development.

MIROSLAV LAJCAK, PRESIDENT UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY "I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate you, appreciate and welcome recent China's pledges to the new UN Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System, to take the lead in setting up a permanent peacekeeping police squad and building a peacekeeping standby force of 8,000 troops. And also you are pledged to provide 100 million (US Dollars) to create an immediate response unit capable to emergencies. China is also a leader when it comes to combating climate change, and translating 2030 Sustainable Development agenda into concrete steps and concrete underground."

Both sides also said despite recent setbacks, multilateralism remains the best approach to confronting challenges and achieving results that benefit all parties.

ZOU YUN BEIJING "The United Nations aims to play a bigger role in dealing with global challenges. And throughout this process, contributions from China are highly valued. Both sides look forward to working together in security, development, and human rights, in a balanced way. ZY, CGTN, BJ."