NEW YORK - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday held separate meetings in New York with his counterparts from Hungary, Ethiopia, Venezuela, and Panama.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil, and Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha Vasquez.

Hungary

Meeting with Szijjarto, Wang said China and Hungary should deepen strategic mutual trust, firmly support each other in safeguarding core interests, and promote closer alignment of national development strategies.

Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of both countries, China-Hungary relations have embarked on a "golden voyage," currently at its best in history, Wang said.

He said that China and the European Union (EU) are partners, not competitors, and the foundation of China-EU relations should be cooperation rather than competition.

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Protectionist practices will only harm European consumers, and the correct way to resolve conflicts and differences is through consultation, Wang said.

Wang voiced hope that the EU will adopt a more practical and rational policy towards China to promote the healthy and stable development of China-EU relations.

For his part, Szijjarto agreed that the EU and China are partners, not opponents, and should cooperate rather than compete. Raising tariffs will not solve problems and will only lead to a lose-lose situation.

Ethiopia

In his meeting with Atske Selassie, Wang called on China and Ethiopia to lift bilateral cooperation in various fields to a new level.

China and Ethiopia, Wang said, are all-weather strategic partners, and bilateral ties have always been at the forefront of China's cooperation with Africa.

He urged the two sides to follow the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and seize the chance of implementing the outcomes of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to lift cooperation in various fields to a new level.

As major developing countries and important members of the "Global South," both China and Ethiopia have the unwavering commitment of defying hegemony and upholding justice, he said, urging the two sides to strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs and make greater contribution to world peace and development.

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For his part, Taye hailed the just-concluded FOCAC summit in Beijing as the most fruitful summit ever and an important milestone in the history of China-Africa relations.

Ethiopia prizes its relations with China, and firmly pursues the one-China policy, he said, adding that his country looks forward to expanding cooperation in various fields and achieving more results.

In international and regional affairs, Ethiopia is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China, jointly oppose unilateralism and hegemonism, and safeguard international fairness and justice, he said.

Venezuela

In his meeting with Gil, Wang expressed China's willingness to aid Venezuela's economic and social development.

Noting that China and Venezuela are good friends and partners, Wang said that China will continue to support Venezuela in maintaining its national sovereignty and dignity, and aid its economic and social development.

Both sides should strengthen and develop their all-weather friendship, provide each other with steadfast support on core interests and major concerns, and turn the important consensus between the two heads of state into practical actions for the development of bilateral relations, Wang said.

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The Venezuelan foreign minister said that Venezuela is China's most reliable and steadfast strategic partner, and is committed to promoting continuous growth in their relationship for the benefit of both peoples.

Panama

Meeting Martinez-Acha, Wang expressed China's willingness to promote bilateral relations.

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Noting that Panama is the first Latin American country to support and participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, Wang said that China is ready to strengthen political mutual trust with Panama, promote practical cooperation, and provide support and assistance to the best of its ability for Panama's economic and social development.

The Panamanian foreign minister said that Panama attaches great importance to its relationship with China, unwaveringly upholds the one-China principle, and will never support "Taiwan independence."