China supports the important role of the United Nations (UN) in the global fight against COVID-19 and stands ready to enhance communication and coordination with the UN system, an official has said.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said this on Monday in a phone conversation with Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
He congratulated Bozkir for becoming the president of the 75th session of the UNGA, saying that as the year 2020 marked the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the UN, this year’s UNGA session had a special significance.
“Chinese President Xi Jinping attended high-level meetings of the UN via videoconference earlier and delivered important speeches,’’ Wang said.
He noted that the Chinese president advocated multilateralism and safeguarded the core position of the UN.
He also called for the strengthening and improvement of global governance to build a community with a shared future for mankind, and offered China’s solutions to various traditional and non-traditional challenges.
“Facing the new impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, all countries should stand in greater solidarity to form a global anti-epidemic force.
“China supports the UN in playing an important role to achieve this goal
“It is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with the UN system to jointly oppose any actions that politicise the pandemic and label the virus, while sticking to the right direction of international anti-COVID-19 cooperation.
“China appreciates the fact that Bozkir prioritises the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as this meets the common desire of the vast majority of countries, the developing countries in particular,’’ Wang said.
According to him, poverty reduction and alleviation are the most important goals of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Wang expressed the hope that sustainable development would be given a bigger priority on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the creation of the UN.
“Now, the world has entered the era of connectivity,” Wang said, adding: “Unilateralism, protectionism and isolationism have no way out in the global village and cannot last either.
“A big country does not mean more power, but more responsibility.’’
The Chinese foreign minister noted that China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, would firmly support the international system, with the UN at its core, and firmly defend the international order based on international law.
Responding Bozkir said that as the current chair of the UNGA, he would focus his energy on pushing forward the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to attain its goals.
He pledged his commitment to eliminating poverty and helping countries in need, especially small and medium-sized countries.
“Strengthening and safeguarding multilateralism is a priority of the UNGA, and China is an advocate and important cooperation partner of multilateralism,’’ Bozkir said.
He said that he would strive to strengthen coordination with China in this regard.
