Chinese President Xi Jinping said China always adheres to multilateralism and supports the United Nations (UN) in playing a central role in international affairs while meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Astana, Kazakhstan on Thursday.

Noting mankind is facing unprecedented opportunities and challenges in a fast-changing world, Xi said the role of the UN as the core platform for practicing multilateralism and advancing global governance can only be strengthened rather than weakened.

This September, the United Nations will hold the Summit of the Future at its headquarters in New York. Xi said China supports the summit and hopes it will send a positive signal of upholding multilateralism, strengthening solidarity and cooperation, and making global governance more just and equitable.

Xi added that China also supports the UN in playing a leading role in advancing the reform of the international financial architecture and the global governance of artificial intelligence.

Echoing Xi, Guterres said that the existing international order, especially the international financial mechanism, needs to be reformed to adapt to the development and changes in the international situation. 

The UN is willing to make every effort to promote the adjustment of the international financial architecture and global governance of artificial intelligence to make global governance more just and reasonable, as well as more conducive to the common development of developing countries, Guterres added. 

While thanking China for supporting the UN and practicing multilateralism, Guterres said the UN looks forward to further strengthening communication and cooperation with China.