The world is undergoing complex changes，COVID-19 is spreading and human beings are facing unprecedented tests and challenges. At the time when the United Nations was founded 75th anniversary, China’s president Xi Jinping delivered a series of important speeches at the 75th anniversary meetings of the United Nations to clarify the Chinese government’s proposals, position and principles.
First, adhering to the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind. President Xi Jinping noted, mankind has entered a new era of interconnectedness, with countries sharing intertwined interests and their future closely linked together. We are living in an interconnected global village with a common stake. All countries are closely connected and we share a common future. No country can gain from others’ difficulties or maintain stability by taking advantage of others’ trouble. To pursue a beggar-thy-neighbor policy or just watch from a safe distance when others are in danger will eventually land one in the same trouble faced by others. This is why we should embrace the vision of a community with a shared future in which everyone is bound together. We should reject attempts to build blocks to keep others out and oppose a zero-sum approach. We should see each other as members of the same big family, pursue win-win cooperation, and rise above ideological disputes and do not fall into the trap of “clash of civilization”. More importantly, we should respect a country’s independent choice of development path and model, not seek the hegemony, bully or boss of the world, work together and launch a joint international response to beat this pandemic.
Second, adhering to the vision of multilateralism. President Xi Jinping noted, COVID-19 reminds us that economic globalization is an indisputable reality and a historical trend. We should pursue open and inclusive development, remain committed to building an open world economy, and uphold the multilateral trading regime with the World Trade Organization as the cornerstone. We should say no to unilateralism and protectionism. International affairs ought to be addressed through consultation among us all. The understanding that we are all in the same boat is now a popular consensus in the global community. We should stay true to multilateralism and safeguard the international system with the UN at its core. Global governance should be based on the principle of extensive consultation, joint cooperation and shared benefits so as to ensure that all countries enjoy equal right and opportunities and follow the same rules.
Third, adhering to the vision of peace, development and win-win cooperation. President Xi Jinping noted, mutual respect and equality among all countries, big or small, represents the progress of our times and is the foremost principle of the UN Charter. Unilateralism is a dead end. All need to follow the approach of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. All need to come together to uphold universal security, share the fruits of development, and jointly decide on the future of the world. Cold War mentality, ideological lines or zero-sum game are no solution to a country’s own problem, still less an answer to mankind’s common challenges. Global challenges are on the increase, they should and can only be resolved through dialogue and cooperation. What we need to do is to replace conflict with dialogue, coercion with consultation and zero-sum with win-win. We need to pursue the common interests of all as we each work to safeguard our own interests. We need to expand the converging interests of all and build a big global family of harmony and cooperation.
Forth, adhering to putting people and life first. President Xi Jinping noted, we humans are battling COVID-19, People of different countries have come together, with courage, resolve and compassion which lit the dark hour, we have confronted the disaster head on. We should put people and life first. Any attempts of politicizing the issue or stigmatization must be rejected. We should enhance solidarity and get this through together. We should follow the guidance of science, give full play to the leading role of the World Health Organization, and launch a joint international response to beat this pandemic. The virus will be defeated. Humanity will win this battle.
Fifth, adhering to taking up major country’s due responsibilities and living up to people’s expectation. President Xi Jinping noted, major changes unseen in a century are taking place in our world. The sudden attack of COVID-19 is a grave test for the entire world. But peace and development remain the underlying trend of the times, and people everywhere crave even more strongly for peace, development and win-win cooperation. Global threats and global challenges require strong, global response. Major countries should live up to people’s expectation, big country should lead by example in advancing and upholding the international rule of law and in honoring their commitments. There must be no practice of exceptionalism or double standards. Major countries should act like major countries, should not breach the moral standard and should comply with international norms, provide more global public goods, take up their due responsibilities and live up to people’s expectation.
75 years ago, China made historical contributions to winning the great victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and supported the funding of the United Nations, to today, 75 years later, China is actively involved in the international fight against COVID-19, working with the UN to set up a global humanitarian response depot and hub in China, and fostering “green corridors” for fast-track transportation and customs clearance. China continues to share its epidemic control practices as well as diagnostics and therapeutics with other countries, establishing a cooperation mechanism for its hospitals to pair up with 30 African hospitals and accelerating the building of the Africa CDC headquarters. China’s COVID-19 vaccines will be completed, available for use and make a global public good, and be provided to other developing countries on a priority basis. China is honor its commitment of providing US$2 billion of international assistance over two years, further international cooperation in such fields as agriculture, poverty reduction, education, women and children, and climate change. China will provide another US$50 million to the UN COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan, and US$50 million to the China-FAO South-South Cooperation Trust Found(Phase III), etc., these show that China has always adhered to the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind. President Xi Jinping noted, China is the largest developing country in the world, a country that is committed to peaceful, open, cooperative and common development. China will never seek hegemony, expansion or sphere of influence. We have no intention to fight either a Cold War or a hot war with any country. We will continue to narrow differences and resolve disputes withe others through dialogue and negotiation. China will continue to work as a builder of global peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of international order. China will gradually foster, over time, a new development paradigm with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other. China will always be a practitioner of multilateralism, actively participate in the reform and construction of the global governance system, firmly safeguard the international system with the United Nations as the core, firmly maintain the international order based on international law, and firmly safeguard the core role of the United Nations in international affairs. China is willing to work with the people of all countries in the world to uphold the common values of peace, development, justice, democracy and freedom, promote the construction of a new type of international relations, promote the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind, and jointly create a better future for the world.
By Qin Jian, Chinese Ambassador to Somalia
