Wang Yi Holds Talks with President of the 76th Session of UN General Assembly Abdulla Shahid

On November 25, 2021, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly and Foreign Minister of the Maldives Abdulla Shahid in Anji County, Zhejiang Province.

Wang Yi said that last month, we held a grand meeting to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the legal seat of New China in the United Nations. President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attended the meeting. It is a major event in the development history of the United Nations that the People's Republic of China has returned to the United Nations, international fairness and justice have been upheld, and the world's largest intergovernmental international organization has truly become representative and authoritative. The 50 years have also witnessed China's peaceful development and its commitment and dedication to the welfare of all humanity. China will continue to be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order. China will choose openness over seclusion, and mutual benefit over zero-sum games, stand firm for fairness and justice and oppose any kinds of unilateralism and power politics. China will always stand on the right side of history and the side of human progress.

Wang Yi said that practicing multilateralism has become a broad consensus, and choosing unilateralism, drawing ideological lines and provoking any confrontation between blocs are not in line with the trend of the times. Within the framework of the United Nations, every country has equal status, every country's voice is important, and every country's vote is valid. We must adhere to the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, so that all countries will jointly safeguard universal security, share the fruits of development, and jointly control the destiny of the world. Neither building a "backyard with high walls" nor forming small cliques can solve a country's own issues or do well against global challenges. If there is competition between major countries, it is better to compare who has contributed larger to mankind and who is better at cooperating with developing countries, rather than comparing the voice or even the fist.

Wang Yi said, the United Nations should be a defender of equity and justice rather than an onlooker of hegemony and bullying, a major platform for practicing multilateralism rather than an arena for superpower games, and a doer of the action to tackle challenges rather than a talking shop full of empty words.

Wang Yi said that President Xi Jinping recently put forward the Global Development Initiative, which has received warm response and support from the international community. All parties are welcome to participate in this open initiative, to promote more countries to pay attention to development issues and form greater synergy to accelerate the realization of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Shahid extended congratulations on the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations, highly appreciated China's firm support for the United Nations and multilateralism, and positively evaluated China's outstanding leadership in maintaining world peace, promoting common development, and responding to global challenges. Shahid said that he agrees with the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind and firmly believes that there is no market for unilateralism. The Global Development Initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping is just in time and of great significance for accelerating the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which brings hope to all mankind. The United Nations is deeply encouraged by China's global vaccine cooperation plan. As a key provider of vaccines, China has played an indispensable role in bridging the "vaccine divide". China vigorously supports South-South cooperation and tripartite cooperation, and has fulfilled its commitment that its vote in the United Nations is always for the well-being of developing countries. This session of the UN General Assembly is ready to enhance coordination with China to jointly maintain fairness and justice, practice multilateralism, respond to global challenges, and help safeguard the UN's authority and credibility.

The two sides also exchanged views on green development and climate change. Wang Yi said that the development of ecological civilization has been written into the Constitution of the Communist Party of China and the national constitution. It has not only become China's national will, but also a solemn promise of the ruling party to the people. The important concept of "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" was put forward by President Xi Jinping when he visited Anji County in Zhejiang Province, where we are now. Now, this concept has become the consensus and action of the whole Chinese society. China will adhere to the path of ecological priority, green and low-carbon development, and advance biodiversity conservation and development in parallel, so as to achieve sustainable economic and social development.

Shahid appreciated China's leading role in promoting global green and low-carbon development, and spoke highly of China's support and assistance for small island countries in addressing climate change. The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation and work with developing countries to urge developed countries to earnestly fulfill their funding commitments and jointly promote the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement.

The two sides also exchanged views on the reform of the UN Security Council, including the Security Council. Wang Yi emphasized that the reform of the Security Council should adhere to the leadership of the member states and equal consultation and consensus, and insist on reaching the broadest consensus and increasing the representation and voice of developing countries.