Wang Yi Meets with UN Secretary-General António Guterres

On September 23, 2022 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Wang Yi said, the world today is fraught with changes and chaos, Secretary-General has spoken loudly for his expectation to strengthen international cooperation, and the Chinese side could not agree more with this. We always believe that major countries, permanent members of the Security Council in particular, should take the lead in abiding by international law, upholding the authority of the UN, practicing true multilateralism, and helping developing countries. However, it is a regret that a certain major country, driven by selfish interests, engages in unilateralism in the name of multilateralism, and forms exclusive blocs or cliques in the name of safeguarding so-called "rules". China will stand firm with the UN, firmly support the core position of the UN in international affairs, and firmly support the UN in playing a bigger role in responding to challenges facing peace and security.

Guterres appreciated the Chinese side playing a key role in supporting multilateralism, advancing international cooperation and sustainable development and other areas for a long time. He said that the partnership with China is an important pillar of the UN and multilateralism, the two sides have carried out close and effective cooperation. The UN supports the Global Development Initiative (GDI), congratulates the Chinese side on successfully holding the recent meeting of the Group of Friends of the GDI, and believes that this will help accelerate the advancement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Guterres briefed on the efforts made recently to promote the delivery of food from Ukraine and the export of fertilizer from Russia, and expressed deep concern over the plight of developing countries brought about by the spillover of the Ukraine crisis. He said that the UN would prioritize development on its agenda, and hopes to strengthen cooperation with the Chinese side on development financing, climate change response, biodiversity, the pandemic response, and other items bearing on the interests of developing countries.

Wang Yi said, the Chinese side appreciates Secretary-General's active mediation that is showing positive effects, the Chinese side's core position on the Ukraine issue is promoting peace talks and standing on the side of peace, and we will continue to play a constructive role in our own way.

Wang Yi stressed, the GDI and the Global Security Initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping are China's vision to boost international development cooperation and help in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and public goods to reduce the peace and security deficit, and create synergy to respond to current grave challenges. We are ready to cooperate closely with the UN, to form more common grounds, pool more strength, and promote more actions. China will continue to support the UN in all its work, and shoulder its due responsibilities.

On the same day, Wang Yi also met respectively with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, and the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka.