Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets diplomats alongside UNGA

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Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday met his counterparts from the BRICS countries alongside the annual United Nations leaders' gathering in New York.

Brazilian Foreign Minister Aloysio Nunes Ferreira chaired the meeting, which was also attended by South African Foreign Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj.

Wang said the BRICS countries have concluded a successful summit in July in Johannesburg and more work should be done to strengthen the BRICS mechanism.

He said the BRICS should firmly uphold multilateralism, maintain a contemporary international system centered on the United Nations, and build a new type of international relations of mutual respect, fairness, justice, cooperation and win-win.

(From L) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, South African Foreign Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and Brazil's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Marcos Galvao pose for a picture during the BRICS Ministerial Meeting held in Pretoria, June 4, 2018. /VCG Photo

The BRICS should continue to promote dialogue as the resolution to international issues, and work more closely to defend common interests of emerging economies, Wang said.

He also called on efforts to expand the BRICS Plus and invite more partners to the platform.

They also exchanged views on global political, economic and security matters.

China, Turkey vow to strengthen ties

Wang also held talks with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, and they vowed to cement bilateral cooperation. Wang said the two countries should work more closely on international issues concerned by both, safeguard multilateralism, international system and international rules.

For his part, Cavusoglu said Turkey attaches great importance to the ties with China, and hopes to expand practical cooperation with China in various fields including economy and trade, energy and counter-terrorism.

Political solution to Syria issue

When meeting with Syria's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, Wang said China always adheres to resolving the Syria crisis via dialogue and negotiation, and that resolving the Syria issue can only be led by Syrian people.

China supports the Syrian government's efforts in defending its sovereignty and territory, he added.

He said China will actively participate in Syria's reconstruction progress as well as its economic and social building.

On his side, Muallem thanked China's support in Syria's reconstruction and humanitarian aid. He said Syria is willing to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative.

(Top image: Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu pose for photo alongside the 73rd UNGA in New York, September 27, 2018. /Photo via China's Foreign Ministry)