On September 25, 2008, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi attended a meeting of foreign ministers from Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) and met respectively with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) 'Troika' foreign ministers and EU 'Troika' foreign ministers, as well as South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on the sidelines of the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

At the meeting of foreign ministers from Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC), Yang said China is dedicated to pushing forward cooperation among BRIC countries and holds that in the future, the four countries can focus their collaboration in the following three areas. First, build political trust and consolidate the basis of cooperation. Second, enhance consultation on major global issues including G-8 plus 5 dialogue, climate change and international development cooperation and play a constructive role. Third, make gradual process and advance pragmatic cooperation on the financial sector. The foreign ministers of the four countries also discussed the issues such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), South-South cooperation, climate change, and energy and food security.

At the meeting with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) 'Troika' foreign ministers, Yang said that China attaches importance to ties with the GCC from a strategic perspective. China is ready to work with GCC countries to maintain high-level visits, deepen economic and trade cooperation, push forward key cooperation projects in the energy field and enhance bilateral communication and coordination on the Middle East and other regional issues.

GCC 'Troika' foreign ministers said that the Gulf countries and China enjoy time-honored friendly relations. The GCC is ready to enhance dialogue and cooperation with China and strive to promote the further development of bilateral ties.

At the meeting with foreign ministers of the EU "troika", Yang said both sides should work together to further promote their cooperation and ensure the success of the upcoming Seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the 11th China-EU Summit. Both sides should properly handle their differences, respect each other's major concerns and strengthen people-to-people exchanges and understanding, so as to enhance public support for stronger China-Europe ties.

The EU ministers indicated that European Union attaches importance to the role and influence of China in international affairs, and stands ready to advance its ties with China through deepening cooperation in various fields. They also pledged to further enhance cooperation with China on major international issues.

When meeting with his South African counterpart Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Yang offered his congratulations on the election of Kgalema Motlanthe as the new president of South Africa, expressing the conviction that the ruling party and the new government of South Africa are fully capable of maintaining the country's political stability and economic development. China stands ready to work with South Africa to take the 10th anniversary of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to continue the momentum of high-level exchanges, boost economic and trade cooperation, strengthen communication and coordination in international and regional affairs, and take the Sino-South African strategic partnership to a new high.

Dlamini-Zuma, for her part, said the new South African government will continue to pursue the friendly policy towards China and adhere to the one-China policy. South Africa stands ready to deepen bilateral cooperation in various fields to push forward the ties.

During the meeting with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Yang said Chinese-German relations have maintained a sound momentum of development, with frequent high-level contacts, brisk bilateral trade and active cultural exchanges. China is ready to continue working with Germany to push forward the ties.

Steinmeier, for his part, said Germany attaches importance to its relations with China, adheres to the one-China policy and stands ready to continue working for the stable development of Chinese-German ties.