BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi on Thursday in Beijing.
Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the fighting in the Middle East is spreading and expanding, with its impact spilling over at an accelerated pace. In particular, if nuclear facilities are targeted, there will be immeasurably serious consequences and the people of the region will be plunged into a dire situation, said Wang.
It is necessary to prevent the successive escalation of confrontation, which could undermine world peace and regional stability, said Wang, adding that history has repeatedly proven that militarism is by no means the right path in the world. Only by immediately ceasing hostilities and resuming dialogue and negotiations can the root causes of the conflict be truly eliminated, he stressed.
Noting that the world today is in turmoil, he said some countries are trampling on rules with power and replacing cooperation with bullying. The post-World War II international order is facing unprecedented challenges, the international system with the United Nations (UN) at its core is experiencing a crisis of trust, and there is a real danger that the world may revert to the law of the jungle, Wang added.
China will firmly uphold and practice multilateralism, safeguard the authority and status of the UN Charter, commit itself to revitalizing and strengthening the UN, and promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system, he emphasized.
Noting that the IAEA plays a significant role in global nuclear governance, shoulders increasingly prominent international responsibilities, and bears the expectations of people of all countries, Wang said that China is willing to strengthen cooperation with the IAEA, safeguard the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and make efforts to maintain peace.
Grossi said that the world today is facing uncertainties, and the changes are so profound that they are difficult to predict and cause concern, and that all countries must join hands to address these challenges.
The four global initiatives proposed by the Chinese side fully demonstrate China's firm support for the international system with the UN at its core, which the IAEA highly appreciates, Grossi noted.
China is a major nuclear power and an important member of the IAEA, said Grossi, adding that the IAEA adheres to the one-China policy and is willing to deepen communication and cooperation with the country in addressing relevant hotspot issues and promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy, jointly safeguarding the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and maintaining world peace and stability. ■
