On July 6, 2018 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini in Vienna of Austria on the sidelines of the Foreign Ministers' Meeting on the Iranian Nuclear Issue.

Wang Yi expressed that we had co-chaired the 8th round of China-EU High-Level Strategic Dialogue in Brussels last month, which further deepened strategic communication and coordination. Facing the international landscape which is full of uncertainties, China and the EU share the same stance and common interests on such aspects as safeguarding multilateralism and free trade system. The 20th China-EU Summit to be held later this month has attracted much attention from the international community. Both sides should work closely to ensure that the summit will achieve a complete success, so as to inject more positive and stable elements into the world.

Wang Yi expressed that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian Nuclear Issue is an important outcome of multilateralism. As the United States unilaterally announced to withdraw from it, now the agreement is facing the choice of where to go. Under the new circumstances, to safeguard the JCPOA is to safeguard the authority of the United Nations, international rules, multilateralism as well as the international non-proliferation regime. China is willing to make joint efforts with all other parties to facilitate this Foreign Ministers' Meeting on the Iranian Nuclear Issue to send a unanimous voice to the world and forge a common ground, so as to transform positive political wills into rational and effective counter measures.

Federica Mogherini said that fruitful achievements have been made from the 8th round of EU-China High-Level Strategic Dialogue co-chaired by State Councilor Wang Yi and her in Brussels not long ago. Both sides have reached extensive consensus on jointly safeguarding multilateralism and free trade under the new circumstances and on other important issues. As the international political landscape has entered a new stage, the EU is willing to intensify coordination and cooperation with China to well prepare for the upcoming EU-China Summit, and further deepen cooperation in various fields, so as to jointly play a leading role in safeguarding the rules-based international order.

Federica Mogherini expressed that all parties had reached consensus on the JCPOA on the Iranian Nuclear Issue in Vienna three years ago. Three years later, all parties should maintain close coordination and make joint efforts to safeguard the JCPOA in the face of the announcement of the United States of withdrawing from it. It is hoped that the upcoming Foreign Ministers' Meeting on the Iranian Nuclear Issue could send a signal of unity to the world and carry out beneficial discussions on how to guarantee the interests of all countries including Iran. She extended her gratitude to China for its significant contributions to the conclusion of the JAPOA and hoped that China will continue to play a positive role in maintaining the effectiveness and seriousness of the JCPOA.