Wang Yi meets Spanish and Pakistani diplomats

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

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

He 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.