Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks at the opening ceremony of the Lanting Forum in Beijing, September 28, 2020. /Chinese Foreign Ministry
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned against unilateralism and protectionism on Monday during a forum on international order and global governance in the post-epidemic era.
The foreign minister stressed that countries should be careful in making decisions when the world is at an important historical point and battling COVID-19.
During the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the international community has reached the consensus that the UN is still the most complete platform in the international system, multilateralism remains the cornerstone of the current international order, and solidarity and cooperation is the only way out of the pandemic, said the diplomat.
"Some certain country made use of the United Nations as a stage to serve its own political and selfish interests, provoking conflicts and confrontation, and many countries have resisted such heinous moves in various ways," he noted.
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Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks at the opening ceremony of the Lanting Forum in Beijing, September 28, 2020. /Chinese Foreign Ministry
Wang outlined China's positions in several aspects.
Peace and development remain the underlying trend of the times, he said, stressing that challenges and difficulties should be resolved through cooperation, new security concepts and development concepts.
"To safeguard peace and security, major countries have special responsibilities and cannot sacrifice other countries' security for their own interests," Wang said.
Fairness and justice, the common values of all mankind, should be upheld, the foreign minister said, adding that all countries enjoy equal rights and opportunities and follow the same rules.
"China is a guardian of international fairness and justice. We will not interfere in other countries' domestic affairs and will not allow others to interfere in the domestic affairs of China," he said.
He said a political virus threatens the world and China will spare no effort in the global fight against COVID-19.
Wang added that China will pursue open and inclusive development and remains committed to building an open world economy.
The event, called the Lanting Forum, is co-hosted by the China Public Diplomacy Association and the Nizami Ganjavi International Center of Azerbaijan.