Chinese state councilor meets with Canadian, Indonesian FMs

Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Singapore on Friday with Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi separately on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers' meeting and related meetings.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets with Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland in Singapore, Aug. 3, 2018. [Photo: Xinhua]

In his meeting with Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, Wang said both China and Canada firmly promote multilateralism, support free trade and advocate the building of an open world economy.

Facing the current international situation, China and Canada should work together with other countries to safeguard the rule-based multilateral trade system and act in accordance with international rules, he said.

Wang hoped that the two countries enhance communication and kick-start the negotiation process of the China-Canada free trade agreement as soon as possible.

For her part, Freeland said Canada supports free trade and firmly advocates to safeguard the rule-based international order.

Canada speaks highly of the contribution made by China to the safeguarding of the multilateral trade rules and seeks to further develop relations and deepen cooperation with China so as to maintain the international trade rules and order of the 21st century, the authority and the effectiveness of the World Trade Organization and jointly oppose trade protectionism.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Singapore, Aug. 3, 2018. [Photo: Xinhua]

While meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Wang noted that China and Indonesia are the backbones of Asia's peaceful development and the importance of bilateral relations has gone beyond bilateral scope. 

The two countries should enhance strategic cooperation and deepen strategic mutual trust in a bid to further develop the ties between the two sides, he said.

The two sides should also enhance high-level contacts and steadily press forward the major projects including Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway and the regional comprehensive economic corridor, Wang added. 

For her part, Retno said further enhancing exchanges and deepening cooperation between the two countries not only benefits their peoples, but also is conducive to the region and the world at large.

Indonesia will be a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council beginning next year and hopes to deepen communication and cooperation with China in international affairs, Retno added.