Wang Yi: China firmly supports UN, multilateralism

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi holds talks with visiting President of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly Miroslav Lajcak in Beijing, China, July 3, 2018. Photo/Ministry of Foreign Affairs）

China firmly supports the important role that the United Nations has played in maintaining peace and promoting development, firmly supports multilateralism and safeguard the international system with the United Nations at the core, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday.

Wang made the remarks when meeting with visiting President of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly Miroslav Lajcak in Beijing.

Wang called for more joint efforts to promote dialogue and consultations as the way to resolve regional issues and to deal with global threats and challenges including terrorism and climate change.

Wang also applauded Miroslav Lajcak’s efforts in pushing for UN reforms and promoting common development.

“We can now say that you are a successful president of the UN General Assembly. You have left your mark on the UN, representing the international responsibility of your home country Slovakia, and building a good example from that.”

Lajcak said the international community welcomes China's increasingly important role in global affairs, and the country has now emerged as one of the main contributors to the UN budget and financing for development.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate you, appreciate and welcome China’s recent pledges to join the new UN Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System, to take the lead in setting up a permanent peacekeeping police squad and building a peacekeeping standby force of 8,000 troops. And also you have pledged to provide 100 million (US dollars) to the African Union to create an immediate response unit capable of responding to emergencies." 

Lajcak is paying a visit to China from July 1 to 3.