Foreign Minister Wang Yi: China will move forward to become a pillar of the multilateral system

Responding to a question from the Global Times at a conference on China's foreign policy and foreign relations on March 7 in Beijing about the international order facing its most dangerous moment since World War II and China's role, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that the more complex and challenging the issues are, the more important the position of the United Nations is.

To prevent the world from returning to the “law of the jungle,” it is imperative to strengthen the foundation of sovereign equality, uphold the principles of fairness and justice, adhere to multilateralism, and strengthen the authority of the international rule of law, said Wang Yi, adding that China will step up as a pillar of the multilateral system and speak up for justice for the Global South.

The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. One of the most important decisions the international community made at the end of World War II was to establish the United Nations, creating a major platform for maintaining world peace and promoting global governance. Practice has proven that the United Nations has risen to the challenge and played an important role, Wang Yi said.

The Chinese Foreign Minister stressed that the international situation has changed significantly. Unilateralism is on the rise and power politics is spreading. Some countries have raised various concerns about the United Nations. However, China believes that the more complex the issues, the more it is necessary to emphasize the important status of the United Nations; the more urgent the challenges, the more it is necessary to uphold the legitimate authority of the United Nations.

“To make the world a better place, we must first strengthen the foundation of sovereign equality, recognizing that countries, regardless of their size or strength, are equal members of the international community,” Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, noting that no one can give orders just because they are “strong” or “powerful.”

Second, according to Mr. Wang, the principle of fairness and justice must be maintained, opposing the monopoly of international affairs by a few countries. The voice of the Global South needs to be heard more, and the legitimate rights and interests of all countries need to be fully protected.

Third, it is necessary to adhere to the concept of multilateralism, follow the principles of consultation, common construction and shared interests, replace group confrontation with inclusive cooperation, and break small circles with "great unity".

Fourth, the authority of international law must be strengthened. In particular, major powers should lead by example, uphold integrity and uphold the rule of law, oppose double standards and selective application, and never bully others or resort to unfair practices.

“China is both the creator and beneficiary of the post-World War II international order, and of course also its maintainer and builder. We have no intention of starting over or supporting any country that seeks to overthrow the system,” said Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

According to China's top diplomat, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China is aware of its international responsibilities and will resolutely uphold the central role of the United Nations, serve as the cornerstone of the multilateral system and be a strong supporter of the Global South.

Last month, China chaired a high-level meeting at the United Nations Security Council on "Practicing Multilateralism, Reforming and Improving Global Governance." More than 100 countries signed up to participate, marking the start of activities to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations.