On December 18, 2015 local time, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Philip Hammond of the UK when attending the third foreign ministers' meeting of the International Syria Support Group in New York.

Wang Yi expressed that in the face of the threat of terrorism, the international community has an obviously growing sense of urgency to solve the hotspot issues in the Middle East. The countries concerned should proceed with promoting peace and stability and the welfare of the people in the Middle East to seize opportunities, strengthen coordination, increase consensus and take actions. China advocates that the focus of political settlement of the Syrian issue should be on promoting peace talks and ceasing fire and stopping violence. Only by peace talks can the cease-fire lasts and continuously extends. The United Nations (UN) should play a more proactive role in the political settlement process of the Syrian issue.

Philip Hammond expressed that the UK appreciates China's proposition and is willing to enhance communication and coordination between the two sides on the Middle East issue.

The two sides highly affirmed the important progress made in China-UK relations this year. Both sides agreed that President Xi Jinping's successful visit to the UK is of milestone significance. The two sides should make joint efforts to implement the consensus of forging China-UK "golden era" reached by leaders of the two countries. China would like to see that the UK can truly become China's most powerful supporter and most open cooperative partner in the West.