Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday said that China will safeguard the central role of the United Nations in international affairs.  

Wang made the remarks via video link at a symposium to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the restoration of China's legitimate rights at the UN.

Wang recalled that in 1971, the 26th session of the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758, specifying that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government that represents China.

It is an event of great historical significance, marking that the UN had truly become the most universal, representative and authoritative, international intergovernmental organization and opening a new chapter of cooperation between China and the UN, he added. 

Over the past 50 years, China has delivered on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter with practical actions and has always worked to safeguard world peace, contribute to global development and preserve international order, Wang pointed out. 

Noting the world is now at a new historical crossroads, the Chinese foreign minister said it is more imperative than ever for the international community to join hands to address challenges and achieve common development. 

Wang called for the safeguarding of multilateralism and maintaining of world peace and stability and voiced China's opposition to the imposition of rules made by a handful of countries in the name of multilateralism. 

He also highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation in the fight against the pandemic, stressing making COVID-19 vaccines a global public good to ensure fair and reasonable distribution around the world. 

"The 'presumption of guilt' and political manipulation on the issue of virus origins tracing are doomed to fail," Wang said while stressing that China will continue its participation in science-based global COVID-19 origins tracing along with all parties. 

Wang urged all countries to take development as a priority and uphold openness and inclusiveness to build an open world economy.  

He also called on the international community to mobilize more development resources for developing countries, provide financial, technological and capacity building support and promote a more equal and balanced global development partnership. 

"It serves no one's interest to go for seclusion and decoupling," Wang said, adding that China welcomes all countries, international organizations, multinational corporations, financial institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to participate in the Belt and Road initiative to promote the integration and development of the world economy and share development fruits. 

Wang also called for improving climate governance and build a clean and beautiful world. He urged developed countries to fulfill their commitments to provide climate finance to developing countries as soon as possible. 

Countries should follow the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities, and equity and respective capabilities, he added. 

China will hold the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in October, according to Wang. 

The Chinese foreign minister also stressed that countries should strengthen exchanges and mutual understanding to promote the progress of human civilization.  

"We must abandon the prejudice of system models and uphold common values of humanity, including peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom," Wang said.