Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed that the most pressing task for the international community remains the battle against the ongoing coronavirus pandemic during a phone call with United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday.

The two also reiterated consensus on multilateralism and jointly addressing climate change.

Global cooperation should be strengthened, and political manipulation should be discarded, Xi said, adding that major countries should set an example by providing more public goods.

Xi said China has provided vaccine assistance for more than 80 developing countries and exported vaccines to more than 50 countries.

China has decided to offer vaccines to the UN peacekeeping operations and the International Olympic Committee, and will continue to actively support COVAX and make continuous efforts to eliminate the "vaccine divide," Xi added.

Guterres thanked the country for its contribution to international cooperation in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, especially when it comes to the fair distribution of vaccines in developing countries, and promoting the recovery and growth of the world economy.

Commitment to multilateralism

Xi and Guterres also reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism. 

"Multilateralism is inseparable from the United Nations, from international law and from cooperation among all countries. The world needs real multilateralism," Xi said. 

He said all countries should act in accordance with the UN Charter and should not seek ideological confrontation in the name of multilateralism.

Guterres said he fully agrees that all countries should practice genuine multilateralism based on the UN Charter and international law, adding that China is vital to the international multilateral system.

Xi also emphasized the importance of addressing climate change. He noted that China has pledged to hit peak emissions before 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2060, a much shorter time span than many developed countries. 

It is an initiative taken by China, rather than a forced response, he noted.

Xi said China will strive to address climate change based on the actual situation and hopes that the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities can continue to actively advance international cooperation. 

Guterres spoke highly of the targets established by China to tackle climate change.

As this year also marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the People's Republic of China's (PRC's) lawful seat in the UN, China will hold grand commemorative activities, Xi said, adding that China is ready to strengthen cooperation with the United Nations, and continue to push forward the implementation of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Noting that this year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Xi said China has scored a complete victory in poverty alleviation, achieved significant strategic results in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and embarked on a new journey of fully building a modern socialist country.

Guterres congratulated the CPC on its centenary and the PRC on the 50th anniversary of the restoration of its lawful seat in the UN, adding that the UN looks forward to closer cooperation with China in the fields such as world peace and security, biodiversity protection, climate change response, and assistance for developing countries to achieve sustainable development, to take the UN-China relationship to a new height.

(Cover: Chinese medical team experts and Italian doctors pose for a photo in Padua, Italy, March 18, 2020. /Xinhua)

(With input from Xinhua)