As the United Nations celebrates its 75th founding anniversary and as the world tackles the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges, China on Tuesday announced a series of measures to support the UN in playing the core role in international affairs. 

The country will provide additional financial support of 50 million U.S. dollars to the COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan of the UN and establish a third-phase South-South Cooperation Trust Fund with the Food and Agriculture Organization totaling 50 million U.S. dollars, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in an address delivered via video link to the General Debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly. 

Xi announced a five-year extension to the China-UN Peace and Development Fund, which had been due to expire in 2025. China will also set up a UN Global Geospatial Knowledge and Innovation Center and an International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals, which will facilitate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, he added. 

"China will continue to be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of the international order," the Chinese president said, calling for global solidarity and commitment to common values of mankind such as peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom. 

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Xi hailed the courage, determination and love that mankind has manifested in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, expressing his confidence that people around the world will achieve a final victory in the fight. 

He said people's lives should be put first, ensuring that no case is missed and no patient is left untreated. 

The international community should be united in fighting the virus and the World Health Organization should play the leading role, Xi said, warning against the politicization and stigmatization of COVID-19. 

The Chinese president stressed the importance of regular epidemic control while restoring economic and social order, and called on major economies to contribute to the world economic recovery. 

He urged the international community to help developing countries, especially those in Africa, to overcome difficulties through measures such as debt relief and aid. 

Xi pledged that China will continue to share anti-epidemic experiences and technologies in diagnosis and treatment with other countries, provide support and assistance to countries in need and actively take part in global scientific research to trace the origin of the novel coronavirus and determine its transmission routes. 

A number of COVID-19 vaccines developed by China have started phase-3 clinical trials, he noted, adding that the vaccines will be made global public goods when they are ready for application and priority will be given to providing them to developing countries.

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Despite challenges caused by the pandemic, peace and development remain themes of the times, Xi stressed, adding that people across the world crave peace, development and win-win cooperation even more strongly. 

"COVID-19 will not be the last crisis to confront humanity," he said. "We must join hands and be prepared to meet even more global challenges." 

The pandemic has reminded people across the world that "we are living in an interconnected global village with a common stake," he said, calling for the vision of a community with a shared future in which everyone is bound together to be embraced. 

Describing economic globalization as an "indisputable reality" and a "historical trend," he called on the world to "face up to major issues such as the wealth gap and the development divide" and pursue open and inclusive development. 

"We should say no to unilateralism and protectionism, and work to ensure the stable and smooth functioning of global industrial and supply chains," he said. 

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Xi also advocated a green revolution to protect the environment as well as reform and improvement of the global governance system. 

"It is natural for countries to have differences. What's important is to address them through dialogue and consultation," he said. "Countries may engage in competition, but such competition should be positive and healthy in nature." 

China is committed to peaceful, open, cooperative and common development and will never seek hegemony, expansion or sphere of influence, he said. 

"We do not seek to develop only ourselves or engage in a zero-sum game," added the Chinese president.