Wang Yi Delivers a Speech at the High-Level Commemorative Meeting to Mark the 60th Anniversary of the Non-Aligned Movement

On October 12, 2021, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a speech at the High-Level Commemorative Meeting to Mark the 60th Anniversary of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

Wang Yi extended congratulations on the 60th anniversary of the NAM. He said that NAM has become a banner of developing countries coming together for strength and is now an indispensable force in international affairs. Standing at the threshold of the third decade of the 21st century, it is even more important for developing countries to stay independent and keep our future firmly within our own hands. And it is even more imperative for developing countries to strengthen solidarity and cooperation to make the global governance system fairer and more equitable.

Wang Yi said, China is a natural partner of NAM. China has been sharing weal and woe with developing countries. China has been providing political support to developing countries, offering economic assistance, and speaking up for justice in the international arena. China will continue to be of one mind with and stand side by side with developing countries, uphold justice while pursuing shared interests, and usher in new prospects of common progress and development.

Wang Yi said, the world today is under the combined impacts of major changes unseen in a century and the COVID-19 pandemic. It is also faced with prominent uncertainties and destabilizing factors. We should thus stand up together to the challenges, overcome the difficulties together, and build together a favorable international environment for developing countries. China is ready to work with NAM members to do the following:

First, continue to be a contributor to global development. Development holds the key to the well-being of the people. During the General Debate of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, President Xi Jinping officially put forward the Global Development Initiative to advance the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, pursue more robust, greener and more balanced global development, and build a global community of development with a shared future. China welcomes active support and participation from NAM members.

Second, continue to be an advocate of a new type of international relations. Hegemony and power politics did not work in the past 60 years, nor will they ever work today. All countries, regardless of size, strength and wealth, are equal. We should respect the sovereignty and development path independently chosen by each other. We should pursue dialogue instead of confrontation, and form partnerships instead of alliances. We should uphold equity and justice in international affairs, listen to the voice of developing countries, and safeguard the interests of developing countries. Faced with global challenges, it is important that all countries bear in mind the shared future, shoulder responsibilities together, and pursue win-win cooperation.

Third, continue to be a practitioner of multilateralism. Multilateralism is not a choice, but a necessity. Practicing true multilateralism means safeguarding the status and role of the United Nations, abandoning the Cold War mentality, and refraining from building exclusive blocs for the purpose of ideological and geopolitical rivalry. It means defending the authority of international law and international order, and refraining from imposing the will of a few countries and their so-called rules onto others. It also means upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, pursuing extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and increasing the representation and say of developing countries in world affairs.

Fourth, continue to be an example of international cooperation. Under the new circumstances, we need to enrich South-South cooperation, enhance dialogue and exchanges between developing countries on governance, and step up communication and coordination on major international and regional issues, so as to steadily strengthen the forces for a prospective and progressive world.

Wang Yi stressed that China will continue to support the cause of the NAM and enhance its cooperation with NAM to jointly write a new chapter of developing countries seeking strength through unity and make further, new contribution to world peace and development.

The High-Level Commemorative Meeting to Mark the 60th Anniversary of the NAM, jointly hosted by Serbia and Azerbaijan, was held in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, on October 11 and 12. Founded in 1961, the NAM has 120 member states now, most of which are developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. China became an observer of the NAM in 1992.