Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has met with visiting UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. The two leaders discussed topics including climate change, and the South China Sea.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) holds talks with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Beijing, capital of China, July 7, 2016. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon is in China on a five-day visit. This is Ban Ki-Moon's tenth visit to China as the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Ban met with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi to discuss a wide range of issues, including international peace, regional security, climate change and sustainable developement.

Last year, President Xi Jinping announced a series of major pragmatic measures to support the work of the UN and safeguard world peace and development while he attended summits commemorating the UN's 70th anniversary. Wang Yi said important progress has been made in implementing those initiatives.

Ban said cooperation between China and the United Nations is getting stronger every year. He praised China for establishing a peace and development fund for the UN, and its increased contributions to UN peace-keeping missions.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke on the role of global governance during a press conference after the meeting,

There is frequent outbreak of political and security issues in the world today, and global economic growth is sluggish, the result of the recent Brexit has come as a bit of a suprise to everyone, so the situation in the world is quite messy, What's your comment on the current messy situation?And What do you think is the best way to address the governance deficit in the world?

"The world is quite messy, not because the principles of the UN Charter are no longer fit for their purpose, but because the principles of the UN Charter have not been honored in letter and spirit. No matter how the times may change, what must remain unchanged are the basic norms governing international relations, by which I mean sovereignty and territorial integrity, and non-interference in others' internal affairs. The goal of peacefully settling disputes should not be changed. As a permemant member of the UN Security Council, China will remain steadfast in upholding the purposes and principles of the UN charter, we will be steadfast in strengthening the authority and the role of the UN, and we will be steadfast in supporting the UN in playing its dual role in international affairs," Wang said.

Ban spoke highly of China's role in promoting world peace and stability. He also stressed to China that differences over the disputed South China Sea need to be resolved peacefully.

"I did stress to Minister Wang as I have with all other countries involved... the need to avoid any escalation or misunderstandings that could put security and development in the region at risk," Ban said.

Wang Yi reiterated his long-standing position of the Chinese government, adding that any effort to reject dialogue or to unilaterally initiate arbitration without the concern of the other party would be against the spirit of the international rule of law, and would distort the purposes of the UN convention on the law of the sea.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the restoration of China's legitimate seat in the UN. China hopes to take the opportunity during Ban Ki-moon's visit to further consolidate and deepen bilateral cooperation with the UN.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi holds talks with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Beijing, capital of China, July 7, 2016. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)