Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned of immeasurably serious consequences on Thursday if nuclear facilities were targeted in the ongoing Middle East conflict as it would plunge the people in the region into a dire situation.

His warning came as he met International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director-general Rafael Mariano Grossi in Beijing.

Wang noted the fighting in the Middle East is spreading and expanding, with its impact spilling over at an accelerated pace.

He said it is necessary to prevent the successive escalation of confrontation, which could undermine world peace and regional stability, adding that history has repeatedly proven that militarism is by no means the right path in the world.

Only by immediately ceasing hostilities and resuming dialogue and negotiations can the root causes of the conflict be truly eliminated, he stressed.

Noting that the world today is in turmoil, Wang said some countries are trampling on rules with power and replacing co-operation with bullying.

The post-World War II international order is facing unprecedented challenges, the international system with the United Nations (UN) at its core is experiencing a crisis of trust, and there is a real danger that the world may revert to the law of the jungle, Wang added.

China will firmly uphold and practice multilateralism, safeguard the authority and status of the UN charter, commit itself to revitalising and strengthening the UN, and promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system, he emphasised.

Noting that the IAEA plays a significant role in global nuclear governance, shoulders increasingly prominent international responsibilities, and bears the expectations of people of all countries, Wang said China was willing to strengthen co-operation with the IAEA, safeguard the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and make efforts to maintain peace.

Grossi said the world today was facing uncertainties, and the changes were so profound that they were difficult to predict, and that all countries must join hands to address these challenges.

The four global initiatives proposed by the Chinese side fully demonstrate China's firm support for the international system with the UN at its core, which the IAEA highly appreciates, Grossi noted.

China is a major nuclear power and an important member of the IAEA, said Grossi, adding the IAEA adheres to the one-China policy and is willing to deepen communication and co-operation with the country in addressing relevant hotspot issues and promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy, jointly safeguarding the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and maintaining world peace and stability. (Xinhua)


Edited by Tony Sabine