DOHA, May 11 -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met here Wednesday with Yemeni Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdulmalik al-Mekhlafi, as they discussed the ongoing round of peace talks on Yemen as well as the development of bilateral relations.

Wang and al-Mekhlafi are in the Qatari capital for the 7th Ministerial Meeting of China-Arab Cooperation Forum, which is scheduled to open on Thursday.

Wang thanked al-Mekhlafi for attending the Doha meeting when a new round of peace talks on Yemen is still ongoing.

This was an indication of the importance that the Yemeni government attaches to its relations with China and to Arab-China cooperation, Wang noted.

Mekhlafi briefed Wang on the situation in Yemen and the ongoing UN-sponsored peace talks in Kuwait.

Wang expressed the hope that all parties involved in the Yemeni conflict can maintain their peace talks and return the country to stability as soon as possible.

Mekhlafi thanked China for its contributions to Yemen's economic development, expressing hope that China will continue to provide the country assistance.

For his part, Wang said China will support Yemen's political process.

Mekhlafi also expressed support for China's just position on the South China Sea issue.