China has called for upholding international cooperation and multilateralism as the global governance system is facing challenges and uncertainties. 

Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, expressed China's views and stance on Saturday while giving a keynote speech during the 55th Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Germany. 

"As one of the founding members of the United Nations and one of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, China has consistently supported multilateralism," Yang said. 

"China always upholds the principle of peaceful development and win-win cooperation," he added. 

Yang stressed that China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and the guardian of the international order. 

"The world is at a critical crossroads of unilateralism and multilateralism, confrontation and dialogue, closure and openness," he said. 

While hailing multilateralism is an effective way to maintain peace and promote development, he said: "We need it now more than ever." 

The conference, which focuses on global order reshuffle is scheduled from February 15 to 17, attracting close to 40 heads of state and government and almost 100 other high-profile figures in world politics and security. 

The annual Munich Security Report, which provides guidelines for the talks, said a new era of great power competition might be unfolding.

The MSC was first held in 1963. Its original aim was to shore up and help coordinate western defense policies, but it has since grown to involve representatives from around the world and has served as an important platform for debates on global security issues.

(Top image via Reuters Photo)