Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi chairs the UN Security Council's high-level videoconference briefing on "Maintenance of international peace and security: Upholding multilateralism and the United Nations-centered international system" on May 7, 2021. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
At a United Nations Security Council meeting, China has reiterated its support for multilateralism and the UN-centered international system.
Major countries, in particular, must lead by the example to provide global public goods.
Wang Yi, China's state councilor and foreign minister
The "Upholding multilateralism and the UN-centered international system" meeting, chaired by China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday, was the first high-level meeting convened by China as rotating council president for May.
"The United Nations is the banner of multilateralism," Wang said. Pursuing multilateralism, "we must follow the basic norms governing international relations" and build around the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, he said. The authority and stature of the UN should also be upheld, and its central role in international affairs ensured. "That is what it means to practice multilateralism. And its intrinsic nature is incompatible with unilateralism."
President Xi Jinping expanded on the essence of multilateralism and underscored the importance of sticking to multilateralism at the high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN last September, Wang said.
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Amid the pandemic, all parties should firmly follow the path of mutually beneficial collaboration to truly practice multilateralism, he said.
Wang called for such collaboration in fulfilling common prosperity goals, urging countries to start a dialogue based on mutual respect. Countries should work together to achieve security and prosperity for all, he said.
He then called for equity and justice. The essence of equity and justice is to promote the democratization of international relations, and the key is to call for the rule of law in international relations.
"International rules are not patent or privileges of the few. (They) must be applicable to all countries, and there is no room for exceptionalism or double standards."
Wang suggested a focus on actions. These should not be shortsighted and should serve longtime needs, and they must be carried out in the common interests of all. The actions should also serve long-term needs such as peace and sustainable global development.
"Major countries, in particular, must lead by the example to provide global public goods," Wang said.
Plea for diversity
He called for diversity to be respected and for growth paths to be taken that suit particular situations. This diversity, together with the common values of peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom will unleash the power of multilateralism, Wang said.
"Splitting the world along the ideological line conflicts with a spirit of multilateralism and is a regression in history."
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the 50th anniversary of the restoration of its lawful seat in the UN. Standing at a new historical starting point, China will reiterate multilateralism and implement the major initiatives announced by Xi at the high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN, Wang said.
China will continue to support the UN-centered multilateralism system, to be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of international order and a provider of global public goods, he said.
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The foreign ministers of Russia, the US, Mexico, Vietnam, Niger, Tunisia, Kenya, Ireland, Norway, Estonia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the deputy foreign ministers of India, Britain and France also attended the meeting.
"We have so many foreign ministers present," Wang said. "It shows that all the members of the Security Council attach great importance to multilateralism.
"We need real multilateralism. To achieve this, the key is to stay committed to openness, inclusiveness, the rule of law, consultation and cooperation, and the pace of the times, and adhere to the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits."
China believes that real multilateralism will help the world overcome the pandemic and contribute to the maintenance of international peace and development, Wang said.