New Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana on Friday at this Red Sea resort on the sidelines of an international meeting on Iraq's security.

In meeting with Lavrov, the two ministers lauded the rapid development of the strategic partnership of cooperation between Russia and China, stressing the significance of holding the Year of China in Russia and the Year of Russia in China in pushing forward with bilateral ties.

The two ministers agreed to make use of these programs of cultural exchanges and deepen cooperation to develop ties in the direction set out by the two nations' leaders.

China and Russia will further increase coordination and cooperation on major issues, they said, while exchanging views on other regional and international issues of common interest.

Both sides also agreed to expand cooperation among members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.

During his meeting with Solana, Yang said the EU was an all- round strategic cooperative partner for China, and China valued highly the EU's role in the international arena.

China was ready to expand and deepen cooperation with the EU in broad fields, said Yang, adding that the Chinese side was also willing to further improve consultation and cooperation with the EU over international issues.

Solana told Yang that the EU attached high importance to cooperative relations with China, and hoped to maintain communication and carry out strategic dialogue with China.

Solana briefed Yang of the EU's stance on the Iranian nuclear issue, saying that the EU hoped to solve the issue through diplomatic negotiations.

Yang said resolving the Iranian issue by peaceful means was in conformity with the interest of related parties, and the important thing at present was to resume negotiations. Yang said China appreciated EU's efforts in this aspect.

The one-day meeting on Iraq, also called enlarged meeting of the Iraq's neighboring countries, was attended by senior diplomats from Iraq's six neighbors -- Iran, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait -- plus Bahrain, Egypt and the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Conference, the UN as well as the EU.

Also attending were senior diplomats from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- the United States, Britain, Russia, China and France -- and members of the G-8, including Germany, Canada, Japan and Italy.

The meeting on Iraqi security follows Thursday's meeting of the International Compact with Iraq, an initiative created to support the war-torn country's reconstruction efforts.

Yang, named Chinese foreign minister on April 27, arrived at this resort on Wednesday afternoon for the two-day conference on Iraq.

Source: Xinhua