On Sep. 22, 2011, local time, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi attended the launch of the Global Counter-terrorism Forum, the International Conference on Afghanistan, and the UN Security Council High-Level Meeting on Preventive Diplomacy in New York. He also met with British Foreign Secretary William Hague, Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Portas and Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba.

At the launch of the Global Counter-terrorism Forum, Foreign Minister Yang said that with the concerted efforts of the international community over the past decade, the global counter-terrorism situation is moving to the better, but still faces many new challenges and new problems. The situation is still grim. It will be a long and arduous journey to fight against terrorism. China believes that the international community should intensify its efforts in a number of areas: first, to promote world economic recovery and boost common development, especially the development of developing countries; second, to maintain international and regional stability and resolve regional disputes in a peaceful manner; third, to deepen international cooperation on counter-terrorism, achieve common security, and continue to support the United Nations to plays a central role in the international fight against terrorism. Yang said that China, as a victim of terrorism and a member of the international community against terrorism, has actively promoted and participated in international and regional counter-terrorism cooperation, has safeguarded regional and global peace and stability and has contributed positively to the international fight against terrorism. China is ready to work side by side with other countries to promote the harmony and inclusiveness among different races, civilizations and countries so as to ultimately achieve lasting peace and security of the world.

While attending the International Conference on Afghanistan, Yang pointed out that progress has been made with the peaceful reconstruction of Afghanistan in recent years, but Afghanistan still faces difficulties and challenges such as a resurgence of terrorism and slow reconstruction process. It requires the continuous support and help of the international community. As a friendly neighbor of Afghanistan and a permanent member of the Security Council, China actively supports and participates in the political and economic reconstruction of Afghanistan and will continue to work with the international community to advance the peaceful reconstruction of Afghanistan and play a constructive role in realizing peace, stability and development of Afghanistan at an early date.

At the UN Security Council High-Level Meeting on Preventive Diplomacy, Foreign Minister Yang said that the United Nations, since its inception, has actively promoted the concept of preventive diplomacy and executed the concept of preventive diplomacy in practice. Preventive diplomacy has made important contributions to easing tensions, resolving hotspot issues and restoring regional peace and stability. In the new situation, China has four propositions on the preventive diplomacy of the United Nations. First, to strengthen the concept of prevention and pay attention to early warning. The United Nations needs to make a real change from focusing on treatment to focusing on prevention, correct the practice of focusing on peacekeeping to focusing on mediation, and increase input to early warning, conflict prevention and peace mediation. Second, to adopt a comprehensive strategy that seeks to treat symptoms and find permanent cures. The United Nations should form a complete, scientific and effective strategy for preventive diplomacy. The United Nations should, on one hand, use various means including intervention, mediation, and negotiation to defuse the crisis, and on the other hand effectively increase input to development, particularly the development of African countries. Third, to strengthen communication and coordination and leverage the respective advantages of all parties. The United Nations, particularly the Security Council, needs to strengthen cooperation with regional and sub-regional organizations and mobilize their enthusiasms. Fourth, to coordinate various resources and develop effective synergies. China supports the UN Secretary-General to play a more active role in this regard. China always supports the prevention of conflicts. China is willing to work with all parties to jointly urge the United Nations and the Security Council to better cope with various threats and challenges.

In the meeting with British Foreign Secretary William Hague, Foreign Minister Yang said that the sound development of China-U.K. relations is in line with the long-term strategic interests of both sides and conducive to world peace, development and stability. Yang hoped that both sides could enhance mutual trust, strengthen cooperation in all areas and push forward the long-term healthy and stable development of bilateral relations and China-EU relations. Hague said that China-U.K. relations are developing vigorously. The British side is willing to strengthen cooperation with China to upgrade bilateral relations and deal with international challenges. The two sides also exchanged views on issues of common interests such as the situation in West Asia and North Africa.

In the meeting with Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Portas, Yang said that bilateral relations have developed well and still enjoy great potentials. China is willing to make joint efforts with Portugal to strengthen cooperation and exchange in all areas and at all levels, expand trade scale, and strengthen communication and coordination on international issues in a bid to upgrade the all-round bilateral strategic partnership to a higher level. Paulo Portas said that the bilateral relations are lasting and solid. Portugal is willing to continue to strengthen the relations and carry out cooperation with China in other third-party countries through the traditional links of Portugal with Africa and Latin America.

In the meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Genba Koizumi, Yang said after the establishment of the new Japanese cabinet, bilateral relations achieved a smooth transition and a good start. Both sides should, based on the principles identified in the four political documents between China and Japan and the spirit reflected in the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, maintain and strengthen high-level exchanges, enhance political mutual trust, and strengthen cooperation in post-disaster reconstruction. The two sides should deepen economic and trade cooperation, vigorously carry out people-to-people exchanges, properly handle sensitive issues, and promote the further, comprehensive and sustainable development of the Sino-Japanese strategic and mutually beneficial relationship in political, economic, cultural and other fields. Genba Koizumi said Japan is willing to take the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity to deepen bilateral ties, improve people's feelings, and build a mutually beneficial strategic relationship for win-win results.