Sri Lanka, UAE, Algeria, Serbia agree with China on safeguarding multilateralism: Chinese diplomat

Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Algeria and Serbia have agreed with China on jointly safeguarding multilateralism as well as the international system with the United Nations (UN) at its core, said a senior Chinese diplomat on Monday.

Wrapping up his visits to the four countries, Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, told Chinese press that he had in-depth exchanges of views with leaders of the four countries on this issue.

Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the UN, Yang said that not long ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping attended a series of UN high-level meetings commemorating the UN's 75th anniversary and delivered important speeches, which pointed the way for the development of the world in the post-pandemic period, injected confidence and impetus into multilateralism, and contributed China's plan to reform and improve global governance.

All the four sides spoke highly of President Xi's speeches at the UN. They think that the speeches have given the world confidence and strength, injected positive energy into cooperation between different countries, and fully demonstrated China's responsibility as a major country, Yang said.

The four countries have agreed that the international community should take the 75th anniversary of the UN as an opportunity to firmly uphold the tenet and principles of the UN Charter, uphold the international order based on international law, uphold the international system with the UN at its core, firmly oppose interference in other countries' internal affairs, and jointly make a strong voice for multilateralism, he said.

They believe the world society should uphold the concepts of openness and inclusiveness in international cooperation, uphold the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, take a clear-cut stand against unilateralism and protectionism, and ensure a stable and smooth global industrial chain and supply chain, Yang said.

The four sides believe global governance should follow the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and promote equal rights, equal opportunities, equal rules for all countries, which is in line with the changed world politics and economy, the practical needs of addressing global challenges, and the historical trend of peaceful development and win-win cooperation, he added.