China: U.S. withdrawal from 66 international bodies is nothing new

China's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Washington's reported decision to withdraw from 66 international organizations, comprised of 31 UN entities and 35 non-UN organizations, was nothing new, stressing that multilateral institutions exist to serve the common interests of all countries rather than the priorities of any single nation.

The value of international organizations and multilateral mechanisms lies in upholding shared interests, not national self-interest, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a news conference. She noted that the UN-centered international system has helped maintain global peace and stability, promote economic and social development, and safeguard equal rights among countries for more than 80 years.

Mao said the current global situation once again shows that only the effective functioning of multilateral systems can prevent the spread of the law of the jungle and stop international order from being dominated by power politics and the use of force, which she said is particularly vital for small and developing countries.

China will continue to uphold multilateralism, support the UN's central role in international affairs, and work with the international community to promote a more just and equitable global governance system.