Wang Yi Attends and Addresses the Opening Ceremony of the 78th Session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

On May 23, 2022, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended and addressed the opening ceremony of the 78th session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) via video link.

Wang Yi said, 75 years ago, in response to the high expectations of the people ofthe Asia-Pacific for a better life, ESCAP was set up in Shanghai, China. The past 75 years have been a journey of productive cooperation. The Asia-Pacific region has maintained peace and stability on the whole. Regional cooperation has flourished and economic strength has risen rapidly, creating an "Asia-Pacific miracle" that has attracted worldwide attention. 75 years later, the world is beset by global changes and a pandemic both unseen in a century. The dated and decayed Cold War mentality is on the rise, unilateralism is rampant, and the international order is being severely impacted. The Asia-Pacific has once again come to a crossroads of history.

Wang Yi said, peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific bear not only on the destiny of the region, but also on the future of the world. The concept of the Asia-Pacific should not be diluted and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific should not be disturbed. We should draw the lessons from history, forgeahead, jointly build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future, and create new splendor in Asia-Pacific cooperation.

First, we should unswervingly safeguard peace and stability, firmly uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and unequivocally reject any attempt to introduce military blocs and bloc confrontation into the Asia-Pacific region. We should adhere to the vision of common, comprehensive,cooperative and sustainable security, and should not pursue one's own security at the cost of others' security. We should stay committed to the peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue and consultation, and opposes all words and deeds that highlight tensions and provoke confrontation in the region.

Second, we should work together to promote economic development, uphold the WTO-centered multilateral trading regime, promote the establishment of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, build an open economy in the Asia-Pacific and an open world economy, and bring more opportunities in the Asia-Pacific to the recovery and growth of the world economy.

Third, we should leverage complementary strengths to achieve win-win cooperation, strengthen the synergy of development policies, deepen practical cooperation in poverty reduction, food security, pandemic response, green development and digital economy, and form exponential synergy to contribute the Asia-Pacific's part to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Wang Yi stressed that the Asia-Pacific region is where China lives and thrives. China will continue to focus on the Asia-Pacific for its benefit and make greater contributions to its lasting peace and sustainable development with concrete actions. China will firmly safeguard peace in the Asia-Pacific, and stands ready to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with other Asia-Pacific countries to implement the Global Security Initiative. China will firmly promote the development of the Asia-Pacific, open wider to the outside world at a higher level, promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, advance connectivity in the Asia-Pacific, and keep regional industrial and supply chains secure and stable. China is ready to work with other countries to implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and actively advance China's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement. China will firmly participate in Asia-Pacific cooperation and take the implementation of the Global Development Initiative as an opportunity to promote sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific. China will hold a high-level meeting on global development at a proper time, increase financial support, and promote the establishment of a pool of projects with the participation of all parties. China will firmly support the work of UN ESCAP, work with ESCAP members to implement the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement and the construction of the Trans-Asian Railway network and other major projects, and support ESCAP in playing a greater role in promoting regional development.

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As one of the five inter-governmental regional economic commissions under the UN Economic and Social Council, ESCAP is an important inter-governmental comprehensive economic and social development organization established by the United Nations in the Asia-Pacific region. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of ESCAP. Its predecessor, the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East, was established in 1947 in Shanghai, China, and was renamed the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in 1974. This year's session is themed "A Common Agenda for Advancing Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific".