China Highlights Its Role in Peace, Development and Multilateralism at the UN

Beijing. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said that China has continued to make active contributions to the United Nations system, global peace, development and multilateralism.

Addressing a high-level meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, Wang said China remains committed to upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and strengthening the UN-centered international system.

This year marks the 55th anniversary of the restoration of the lawful seat of the People’s Republic of China in the United Nations. Referring to the occasion, Wang said China, as a permanent member of the Security Council, has actively participated in the UN cause over the past 55 years.

Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that amid international turbulence and transformation, China has continued to fulfill its responsibilities with a clear sense of commitment. He noted that China’s vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity and its four major global initiatives have received broad international support.

At a time when conflicts and tensions remain frequent in different parts of the world, China has promoted peace and encouraged dialogue, Wang said. He referred to China’s role in addressing hotspot issues, including the establishment of the Group of Friends for Peace on the Ukraine crisis on the UN platform, saying China has continued to contribute its wisdom and efforts to maintaining world peace.

Wang also said China has worked to empower and support its partners amid global development challenges. According to him, the Global Development Initiative has mobilized more than 23 billion US dollars in funding, supported over 1,800 cooperation projects, delivered up to 10,000 capacity-building programs for developing countries and trained more than 200,000 professionals in different fields.

He said these efforts have given strong support to the development of the Global South. China, he added, has advanced cooperation by focusing on the needs, capacities and priorities of developing countries.

Wang also highlighted China’s assistance during major public health crises. Recalling China’s full support to three West African countries in fighting Ebola in 2015, he said China is ready to provide assistance, to the best of its ability, to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda in responding to the current Ebola outbreak. He said Chinese medical teams are already on the ground, working alongside African partners.

At a time when multilateralism is facing headwinds, China has stepped forward to shoulder responsibility, Wang said. He noted that China is the second-largest contributor to the UN regular budget and has earnestly fulfilled its financial obligations.

Wang said China has established and made effective use of the China-UN Peace and Development Fund as well as the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund. Through these mechanisms, China has supported programs related to peace, development and capacity building.

According to Wang, China has also initiated the International Organization for Mediation and the World Data Organization. It has proposed the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization and has actively offered to host the Secretariat of the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction.

Wang described these steps as China’s concrete efforts to build pillars for multilateralism. He said China will continue to work toward strengthening, rather than weakening, the UN-centered international system.