China Diplomacy: Chinese FM meets UN, WHO chiefs on global challenges, China's role

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held meetings with dignitaries from international organizations attending the Beijing Winter Olympics.The UN and WHO chiefs said they recognized China's efforts to advance multilateralism, peace and health. Zhou Jiaxin has more.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the Beijing Winter Olympics highlighted the crucial need to work in unity more than ever. Guterres made the remarks in his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing.

The UN general assembly in December adopted the Olympic truce resolution drafted by China and the International Olympic Committee. The resolution comes at a time of rising geopolitical tension, conflict in parts of the world and unilateral action by certain nations.

Guterres recognized China's efforts to promote multilateralism, peacekeeping and sustainable development. He said the China-led Global Development Initiative is most welcome and that the UN will be working with China and other countries to implement this.

The initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping last September to the UN is aimed at strengthening a people-centered, innovative form of development with special attention to the needs of developing countries.

The Chinese foreign minister said that the imbalance in economic growth can be addressed through globalization that is open, inclusive, and for everyone's mutual benefit.

Wang added that China supports UN's core role in international affairs, and will continue pushing the UN agenda for sustainable development.

The COVID-19 pandemic, now on its third year, remains one of the biggest challenges facing mankind. In his meeting World Health Organization director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Chinese foreign minister said China has made significant effort to safeguard global heath by providing humanitarian and medical aid on a large scale, including more than two billion doses of vaccine to over 120 countries and international groups.

The WHO hailed China's global support in COVID-19 vaccine, particularly in Africa. It said China will play a big role in WHO's push to achieve 70 percent vaccine coverage as soon as possible. Zhou Jiaxin, CGTN, Beijing.