Chinese top diplomat Wang Yi urged Canada to safeguard a multilateral world system amid the challenge of unilateralism and protectionism.

The Chinese foreign minister also state councilor made the calls on Monday, while meeting his Canadian counterpart Chrystia Freeland on the sideline of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York.

China firmly supports free trade and a rule-based world trading system, and the world would be ruled by the law of the jungle again – the chaos would jeopardize all countries especially small ones, Wang warned.

China and Canada should work together to defend multilateralism by calling on all countries to abide by international rules and a multilateral trading system.

On her side, Freeland said that Canada attaches importance to relations with China and it hopes to deepen cooperation with China.

Freeland said Canada also endorses multilateralism and a multilateral world system, and the world can no longer return to the jungle rules.

Canada will continue to advocate the rule of law and multilateralism in international affairs and advocate the settlement of disputes on the premise of equality and mutual respect, she added. 

(Top image: Chinese Foreign Minister, also State councilor, Wang Yi meets his Canadian counterpart Chrystia Freeland in New York, Sept. 24, 2018. /Chinese Foreign Ministry Photo)