President Xi voices firm support for UN in meeting with Guterres

President Xi Jinping on Friday reiterated China's firm support for the United Nations when meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who is in Shanghai for the 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance.

Xi spoke highly of Guterres' work since he was appointed UN secretary-general 10 years ago, which included leading the UN in firmly upholding multilateralism, addressing global challenges such as climate change, advancing global governance in emerging fields, including artificial intelligence (AI), and launching the UN reform process.

Noting that this year marks the 55th anniversary of the restoration of the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China at the UN, Xi said China has since been committed to building world peace, contributing to global development, defending international order and firmly supporting the UN.

Xi added that he proposed the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity and the four global initiatives with one important consideration in mind – to uphold the status and authority of the UN.

Currently, the international landscape is marked by more pronounced changes and turbulence, making it all the more necessary to practice true multilateralism and reinvigorate the status and role of the UN, Xi said.

He urged all countries to uphold fairness and justice, uphold principles and break new ground, step forward and assume their responsibilities.

"As the 190-plus countries in the world are in the same ship with their future tied together, we must work together and rise to global challenges in a spirit of solidarity," Xi said.

China has been taking concrete steps to actively explore the right way for major countries to get along with each other in the new era, with a view to bringing more stability and certainty to the world, he added.

Guterres said that China has remained a firm supporter of multilateralism and the UN's endeavors and a driving force for international cooperation, no matter how difficult or complex the international circumstances may be, setting an example for the world.

China has always been a champion in addressing development imbalances, tackling climate change, developing AI for good, closing the development gap, and upholding fairness and justice, and it has also put forward a series of major visions and initiatives, he said. "This is truly admirable."

The UN, Guterres said, will continue to strengthen cooperation with China, resist unilateralism, protectionism, and domineering and bullying practices, uphold the UN Charter and international law, advance world multipolarity, and safeguard the common interests of the international community.

(With input from Xinhua)