Wang Yi meets diplomats and officials in New York

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China firmly upholds the multilateralism process, the UN-centered international system and rules and the international trade system with the WTO at the core.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks during a meeting with his German counterpart Heiko Maas on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday.

Wang said China-proposed cooperation initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the 16+1 Cooperation are all open and transparent.

"We are glad to see that adherence to multilateralism has become the mainstream voice of this session of the General Assembly," Wang said.

For his part, Maas said Germany attaches great importance to the bilateral ties, as German Chancellor Angela Merkel visits China on a yearly basis.

Both countries support multilateralism and share similar positions on major international issues including free trade, climate change and the Iran nuclear issue, he said.

Wang calls international community to insist on multilateralism

As for world trade, Wang reiterated China firmly supports international law and rules when meeting with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde on Wednesday.

Wang encouraged the international community to jointly stand firm on multilateralism.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde hold talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, September 26, 2018. /Photo via Chinese Foreign Ministry

China appreciates the important role played by the IMF in promoting the stable growth of the world economy and promoting international cooperation, he said.

Lagarde said the IMF is committed to deepening its partnership with China, noting she is impressed by China's reform process such as the recent measure of tax cuts.

Under the current situation, the international community should continue to firmly uphold the multilateral trading system, adhere to international trade rules, resolve differences through consultation and jointly achieve competitive growth, Lagarde stressed.

Wang also noted the WTO has played an important role in the development of international trade, especially in promoting the growth of developing countries.

On the WTO reform, Wang said the Chinese side believes that reform should safeguard the basic principles and core values of the WTO and provide more conveniences to developing countries.

China calls for joint efforts to meet challenges of climate change

Wang on Wednesday attended an informal high-level leaders dialogue on climate change. Wang said in a speech that climate change is related to the future of the mankind.

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"China firmly supports the international community to join hands to meet the challenges of climate change. The implementation of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement is a political commitment made by the leaders of all countries. It is also a legal obligation that cannot be shirked and a historical responsibility that all countries must undertake in conformity with the global development trend," said Wang.

China adheres to the new development concept of innovation, coordination, green, openness and sharing, and adopted the Paris Agreement as its inherent requirement for sustainable development, noted Wang adding that China has taken a series of decisive and effective actions and achieved tangible results.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in the meeting with Wang that climate change is an absolute priority and the world is not doing enough.

The Paris Agreement commitment was universal. But the world is nowhere close to where it needs to be to meet these minimum targets, said Guterres. "Climate change is indeed running faster than we are, and we have the risk to see irreversible damage that will not be possible to recover if we don't act very, very quickly."

"We need to do more and we need to do it quicker: we need more ambition and accelerated action by 2020. If we do not reverse the current trend of emissions by 2020, it may be impossible to meet the 1.5 degree goal," stressed the UN chief.

Wang attends photo exhibition in New York

Wang Wednesday attended the photo exhibition themed "China in Action: Implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development " at the UN headquarters in New York.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends a photo exhibition themed "China in Action: Implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development " at the UN headquarters in New York, September 26, 2018. /Photo via Chinese Foreign Ministry

Wang expressed the hope that through photo exhibition, China can share with other countries the concepts, actions and achievements of China's implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. And China is looking forward to working together with other countries to build a world of lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity, openness, tolerance and cleanliness.

China and GCC countries are natural partners

Wang Yi met with the representatives and counterparts from three Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries on Wednesday.

Wang said China's economic cooperation with the GCC countries is complementary and they are natural partners.

The two sides will restart the free trade zone negotiations as soon as possible, he noted.

China has become the most important trading partner of the GCC. The GCC countries agree to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China in international affairs, representatives said.

China hails comprehensive strategic partnership with Ecuador

Wang met with his Ecuadorian counterpart Jose Valencia Amores on Wednesday, hailing the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

China appreciates Ecuador's firm stance on the one-China policy, said Wang, adding that China regards China-Ecuador relations as an important part of developing relations with Latin American countries.

Ecuador speaks highly of China's tremendous achievements in economic and social development, thanks to China for its strong support and we hope to deepen pragmatic cooperation with China in various fields, Valencia said.

(Top image: Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi listens to US President Donald Trump's address at the UNSC meeting during the 73rd session of the UNGA in New York, September 26, 2018. /VCG Photo)