Wang Yi meets Mohammad Javad Zarif, August 3, 2018. (Photo: MOFA)

The Iran nuclear deal and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula topped the agenda of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s meetings with counterparts from various countries in Singapore on Friday. 

Safeguard Iran nuclear deal 

Speaking with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers' meeting, Wang said China will do its best to continue safeguarding the Iran nuclear deal in a bid to maintain peace and stability in the region and the world at large, and added that Beijing was willing to enhance communication and cooperation with all parties. 

Zarif said Iran and China are strategic partners and China has played an important role in hammering out and implementing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). 

He said Iran was willing to continue safeguarding and implementing the deal and will continue to work with the parties concerned, including China and European countries. 

Korean Peninsula issue 

Wang also held talks with Ri Yong Ho, foreign minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), who may meet with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the ASEAN Regional Forum this weekend.

"China has always believed that denuclearization of the Korean peninsula should keep pace with establishing a peace mechanism on the peninsula," Wang stressed. 

"We certainly hope that the current DPRK-US talks will continue to move toward a peaceful outcome. China will continue to play a positive role in this regard. We also hope the US will respond to legitimate requests from the DPRK," he added. 

China’s top diplomat also met with his counterpart from the Republic of Korea (ROK's), Kang Kyung-wha. 

The two acknowledged that the recent easing of the situation on the Korean peninsula was the result of joint efforts by all parties, and agreed it was hard to come by and should be cherished and not abandoned halfway.

Adhere to multilateralism 

Wang also held a bilateral meeting Friday with Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana palace.

Noting that China is willing to maintain close and high-level exchanges with Singapore, Wang said the two countries should work together to shoulder their responsibilities, firmly support multilateralism and uphold international rules as well as the multilateral trading system. 

Lee, for his part, noted that China's political system is continuous and stable, and can play an important and constructive role in global governance and international order.

Singapore adheres to multilateralism and supports China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Lee said, adding he hoped to further deepen bilateral relations and promote mega projects such as the Strategic Connectivity-Southern Transport Corridor.