Wang calls on nations to uphold peace, growth
In a time fraught with changes and chaos, China has undertaken a series of diplomatic efforts at United Nations bodies for countries to uphold peace and development and to pursue solidarity and equity, providing a firm and clear solution to global challenges.
In an address at the general debate of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly on Saturday, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China has been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of the international order, a provider of public goods and a mediator of hot spot issues.
Wang concluded on Sunday his eight-day visit, during which he also attended a host of high-level events, met with a number of foreign ministers and expounded on China's positions.
The China-proposed Global Security Initiative contributed the country's approach to tackling global security challenges and the Global Development Initiative, putting the people at the center, is a rallying call to build a global community of development, Wang said.
He called for countries to address differences through peaceful means and disputes via dialogue and consultation, and to oppose turbulence and war, which would "only open Pandora's box".
Wang underlined the need to strengthen solidarity and engage in cooperation rather than group politics and bloc confrontation.
"Difference in system should not be used as an excuse to create division; still less should democracy and human rights be used as tools or weapons to achieve political ends," he said.
While stressing that "no country is above others, and no country should abuse its power to bully other sovereign countries", he urged countries to promote and practice true multilateralism.
As a mediator of hot spot issues, Wang said, China acts as a responsible major country exploring workable approaches to solving the issues.
He announced that China has decided to launch its domestic procedure to ratify the UN Firearms Protocol, a step that would help close a security gap and shows China's determination to support multilateralism.
Wang said that China has provided over 2.2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to over 120 countries and international organizations and has offered development aid to more than 160 countries.
Beijing has signed cooperation documents with 149 countries and 32 international organizations on advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation to address tough challenges confronting global development.
Diao Daming, an associate professor of US studies at Renmin University of China, said that Wang's speech at the most representative and authoritative international body shows that China is a responsible major country committed to building a community with a shared future for mankind.
As the United States hypes up the China threat and clings to a Cold War mentality, Wang's address helps the world gain an accurate view of China and sends a positive signal to jointly tackle challenges, Diao added.
In his speech, Wang also stressed China's position on the Taiwan question, saying that the one-China principle has become a basic norm in international relations and a general consensus of the international community.
China will continue to endeavor to achieve peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and efforts, he said, adding that to realize this goal, it must combat "Taiwan independence" separatist activities with the firmest resolve and take the most forceful steps to repel external interference.
"Any scheme to interfere in China's internal affairs is bound to meet the strong opposition of all us Chinese, and any move to obstruct China's cause of reunification is bound to be crushed by the wheels of history," Wang said.
As the US is taking provocative actions and distorting narratives on the Taiwan question, Wang's remarks set the record straight and show there is no room for ambiguity on the one-China principle, said Zhang Tengjun, deputy director of the Department for Asia-Pacific Studies at the China Institute of International Studies.
