BEIJING — Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, held a phone conversation on Feb 26 on the development of bilateral ties and international issues of common concern.

Hailing the sound development of bilateral ties and maintenance of close contacts between the two sides, Wang said China hopes that fresh achievements will be reaped in China-Germany relations in 2015.

Steinmeier said Germany-China relations have developed smoothly, and that Germany is ready to make concerted efforts with China to ensure success of a series of exchanges of visits between the two sides this year.

On the Iranian nuclear issue, Wang said the issue bears strategic significance to regional and international security, calling on various parties to strengthen communication, build confidence and work in the same direction to strive for consensus in principle on key pending issues in the next round of negotiations.

On the Ukrainian crisis, Wang said the Chinese side welcomes and supports the Minsk agreements.

China appreciates the mediation efforts and the constructive role by Germany and other parties concerned in peacefully resolving the Ukrainian crisis through political dialogue and expects the Minsk agreements to be implemented in a down-to-earth manner.

China hopes that with great assistance by the international community, the Europeans could properly solve Europe’s problems with wisdom.