Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met several foreign officials in New York on Tuesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

Wang meets UNGA president, stressing multilateralism

Wang on Tuesday met Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, president of the 73rd session of the General Assembly, and called for the need to safeguard multilateralism.

Noting that unilateralism is challenging the current international order and system, Wang called on the UNGA to make the appeal to uphold multilateralism, maintain the UN Charter, and safeguard rules of international relations.

Espinosa thanked China's support for UNGA's work and said the UN needs to promote multilateralism and safeguard the international system based on rules more than ever.

She also congratulated China's achievements in poverty reduction and said she hopes China can continue to play an important role in promoting sustainable development.

Wang hopes US can meet China halfway

Wang also met former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in New York and the two exchanged views on Sino-US ties.

Wang said China and the US can have competition, but should not treat each other with a Cold War mentality.

He urged the US to meet China halfway, and make sure the development of bilateral ties does not deviate from the right track.

Wang said China appreciates the efforts Kissinger made to promote China-US ties and hopes he can continue to play a special role in it.

Kissinger, for his part, said he is optimistic about the future of bilateral ties and said the two sides need to strengthen cooperation in global issues.

He said the two sides cannot confront each other just because of disagreements in bilateral cooperation.

"Cooperation is the only and right choice for the two sides and I will work toward it," he stressed. 

Wang meets Spanish and Pakistani diplomats 

Wang also met his Spanish counterpart Josep Borrell and Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

Wang commended Spain's participation in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

He said China appreciates Spain's objective, fair and positive view of China's development, and the two countries should work more closely on the Belt and Road Initiative and explore more opportunities.

Borrell said this year is the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic ties, and Spain looks forward to a visit of Chinese leaders and takes this opportunity to further explore the potential for cooperation between the two countries.

Spain sees high value in the Belt and Road Initiative, and hopes to explore more collaboration projects under the framework, he added.

China is Spain's second-largest trading partner following the European Union. The Sino-Spanish trade volume reached over 30.9 billion US dollars, according to China's official figures.

When meeting Qureshi, Wang said the bilateral ties have achieved a smooth transition after the Pakistan election, which proves China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic partners.

Any attempts to damage and interfere with the ties are doomed, Wang said.

Wang pushed for the building of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. He said the two countries should speed up cooperation in trade and poverty alleviation and bring prosperity to people on both sides.

Qureshi said the two countries enjoy a strong friendship, and it will not change under any international circumstance.

He added that the economic corridor is important to Pakistan, and the Pakistani government will firmly push for the project. 

China-Latin America cooperation

Wang also attended a ministerial-level meeting of China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Forum. 

He said China and Latin American countries should enhance mutual understanding, firmly support each other's core interests and accelerate and explore cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, which would benefit people on both sides. 

He also urged to oppose unilateralism and trade protectionism.

He said the two sides should support multilateralism and free trade systems and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries and emerging economies.

Wang meets Panamanian president, FM

Wang also met Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela and Foreign Minister Isabel Saint Malo de Alvarado.

Wang conveyed President Xi Jinping's cordial regards to President Varela and hailed Varela's successful visit to China last November.

Wang said that Panama's decision to establish diplomatic relations with China reflects the broad mind and global vision of Panama's government and its people. 

In the last 15 months since the establishment of China-Panama ties, cooperation in trade, investment, finance, infrastructure, power grid, direct flights, cultural education and other fields has rapidly advanced. 

He added China is ready to go hand in hand with Panama to fully stimulate the potential of cooperation between the two countries.

The Panamanian side said it was a right decision to establish diplomatic relations with China and the two countries have made fruitful cooperative results during the past year. 

(Top image: Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, meets Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, right, president of the 73rd session of the General Assembly, New York, September 25, 2018. /Photo via Chinese Foreign Ministry)