On the morning of September 24, local time, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met respectively with African Union Commission Chairman Jean Ping, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, South African Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and Thailand's Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, and held a group meeting with representatives from the member countries of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) at UN headquarters in New York.

In talks with Jean Ping, Yang said that the relationship between China and African Union is an important part of new China-Africa strategic partnership and has entered a new stage of all-round, rapid development in recent years. China welcomes the participation of African Union into the China-Africa Cooperation Forum (CACF) in the future and will expand mutual support and cooperation to push the new strategic partnership to a new level. Jean Ping said that the African Union is ready to further the high-level exchanges and cooperation with China in all areas. They also exchanged views over the situation in Africa, Libya and other issues.

When meeting with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, Yang said the Sino-Cuban ties continued to maintain a rapid growth momentum, characterized by frequent high-level exchanges, continuously consolidated political ties and deepening pragmatic cooperation. China is willing to boost high-level exchanges and offer mutual support for common development. Yang urged both sides to do a good job in planning the economic and trade cooperation to push forward the cooperation. Both sides should also maintain good international cooperation and promote bilateral friendly cooperation to a new level. Rodriguez said that Cuba is satisfied to see that the sound political, economic and trade cooperation between Cuba and China has brought benefits to people of both countries. He said as both countries are in an important period of national construction, Cuba is ready to work closely with China in increasing high-level exchanges, designing the economic and trade cooperation framework in the next five years and promoting cooperation in agriculture. Rodrigueze added Cuba appreciates China's assistance and welcomes more investment from China.

During his meeting with South African Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Yang said great progress had been achieved since China and South Africa established comprehensive strategic partnership and pledged that China would work with South Africa to push bilateral ties to yield more positive outcomes and enhance cooperation with South Africa within the framework of CACF. Yang also voiced China's support for South Africa's bid in hosting a successful Durban Climate Change Conference. The South African Foreign Minister said South Africa will further promote the cooperation with China in bilateral areas, as well as on climate change, G20 Summit and other international occasions. Both sides also exchanged views on Libya.

When meeting with Thailand's Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Yang said that China considers Thailand as a close friend and reliable partner and will maintain the high-level exchanges with Thailand. While enhancing strategic communication with Thailand, Yang said China will also work to speed up the process of discussing and inking a five-year plan concerning economic and trade cooperation with Thailand, and to strengthen the coordination and cooperation with Thailand in regional and international affairs so as to push bilateral ties and China-ASEAN relations for greater development. In addition to advancing high-level and people-to-people exchanges with China, as well as deepening the cooperation in economy, trade and tourism, Thailand hopes that both countries will finalize the second strategic cooperation action plan at an early date, Surapong said. Both Yang and Surapong spoke highly of the guidelines of implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and expressed their support for turning the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation. They also exchanged opinions on East Asia Summit, economic cooperation of Greater Mekong Subregion.

During his group meeting with representatives from GCC member nations, Yang said the China-GCC relationship is at its best in history, with mutual understanding and support in important issues concerning core interests and major concerns of both sides, and fruitful cooperation in areas such as economy, trade and energy. "China attaches great importance to the influence of GCC in West Asia and North Africa and is ready to work with GCC for the peace, stability and development of the region," said Yang. He hoped that both sides will further increase political trust, speed up the establishment of free trade zones, expand cooperation in anti-terrorism and other non-traditional security areas, further improve the group meeting mechanism and keep closer coordination in international affairs. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates, which holds the current rotating presidency of GCC, and GCC Secretary General Abdul Latif Al Zayani said GCC and its member states attach great importance to relations with China. They also hope to further the bilateral cooperation and deepen the strategic dialogue with China in the long run. They pledged GCC will continue to adhere to the one-China Policy. Both sides also exchanged views on Libya, Syria, Palestine-Israel, Iran and other issues.