State councilor reaffirms commitment to multilateralism

China's state councilor has reiterated the call to firmly uphold multilateralism and build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Wang Yi, who is also China's foreign minister, made the comments in a speech during the United Nations Economic and Social Council's virtual high-level conversation 'Multilateralism after COVID-19: What kind of UN do we need at the 75th anniversary?', which was held on Friday.

During the past three quarters of a century, since the founding of the United Nations, the world has seen profound shifts, accentuated by the enormous impact of COVID-19, Wang said.

"The myriad challenges before us have driven home the fact that this is an era of intertwined traditional and non-traditional security threats as well as inter-connected interests of all countries, and our world is increasingly an indivisible community with a shared future," he said.

Amid the once-in-a-century changes, China called for a United Nations that safeguards world peace and security, and fairness and justice; a United Nations that advocates harmonious co-existence across different races, systems and cultures; a United Nations that champions common development by addressing the North-South gap; a United Nations that keeps abreast of the times and effectively responds to global challenges.

Wang stressed that to meet the challenges of the time, whether it is to pursue peace and stability, achieve common development, combat COVID-19 or improve post-COVID-19 global governance, the world needs "a stronger, not weaker, UN".

"The UN's authority must be upheld, not undermined," he said. "We all have a duty to respond to the call of the times. We need to firmly support the central role of the UN, advance multilateralism and work for a community with a shared future for mankind."

Wang underlined the importance of upholding multilateralism and rejecting unilateralism and protectionism.

"We must always stand on the side of multilateralism and international justice. We must uphold the international system built around the UN, safeguard the WTO-centered multilateral trading regime and speed up the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change," he said.

"We need to say no to unilateralism. We need to oppose any act of walking away from international organizations and treaties or replacing them with something out of nowhere. No one should challenge or undermine universally recognized rules out of selfish interests."

Wang emphasized that the UN is needed to support greater democracy in international relations and reject hegemony and power politics.

He said the future of humanity must be decided by people of the world together. Issues that matter internationally must be addressed through consultation between nations and governments.

"Any country claiming that its own interests should always come first and be placed above the common interests of the global community is morally unjustified and doomed to failure," he said.

"The basic norms governing international relations, such as respect for national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs, must be observed by all," he added.

Wang pointed out that the international order underpinned by international law should be safeguarded, while unlawful acts and double standards should be rejected.

"We all live in a global village. Development and progress will not be possible without order and the rule of law. Upholding the international rule of law is what our people want and what this globalized world needs," he said.

"We need one single set of rules, not double-standards or selective application of these rules, when determining the merits of an issue. It is unacceptable to use the rule of law as a pretext to infringe on the legitimate rights and interests of other countries or even undermine peace and stability."

Wang called for solidarity and cooperation and the rejection of conceit and beggar-thy-neighbor practices.

He reiterated that solidarity and cooperation are the most powerful weapons against common challenges.

And he said COVID-19, which has infected tens of millions of people and claimed more than 500,000 lives worldwide, requires nations to cooperate urgently.

"In fighting the disease, we must always follow a people-first approach and put saving lives above all else. The world needs to come together and give the World Health Organization full support in playing its statutory role," he said, adding any politicization, stigmatization or name-calling associated with the virus must be rejected, as should scapegoating and blame-shifting.

Wang expounded that China is a firm proponent and practitioner of multilateralism. As a founding member of the UN and the first country to put its signature on the UN Charter, China has always supported the UN in playing an active role, upheld its authority and stature, and followed the purposes and principles enshrined in the UN Charter.

He said China's response to COVID-19 has been "open, transparent and responsible".

Since the pandemic began, China has provided timely information about the disease and made all-out efforts to cut off its transmission routes. It has also shared its experience in containing the virus and fully supported the work of the UN.

"Let us come together for peace and development, in keeping with the trend of our times and guided by multilateralism," Wang said. "Let us build an open, inclusive, clean, and beautiful post-COVID-19 world that enjoys lasting peace, security, and prosperity for all."