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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin’s Regular Press Conference on October 24, 2022

2022-10-24 19:28

The Paper: October 24 marks the United Nations Day and the 77th anniversary of the UN. As a UN founding member and a permanent member of the Security Council, how does China view the UN’s role in today’s world? No long ago, UN Secretary-General António Guterres observed that the United Nations Charter and the ideals it represents are in jeopardy. Do you have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: Congratulations to the UN on its 77th anniversary. Seventy-seven years ago today, the UN Charter officially came into force and hence the founding of the UN, which opened a new chapter for international relations. As the most universal, representative and authoritative inter-governmental organization, the UN has shown its abiding commitment to multilateralism and played an irreplaceable role in upholding world peace and promoting common development.

As a permanent member of the Security Council and the first to put its signature on the UN Charter, China has all along upheld the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, defended the UN’s central role in international affairs and served as a firm builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order. 

China follows the path of peaceful development. We have been committed to the political settlement of hotspot issues. We launched the Global Security Initiative. We take an active part in the UN peacekeeping operations (UNPKOs) and the international arms control, disarmament and nonproliferation processes. China has sent over 50,000 peacekeepers to UNPKOs. We are the second largest contributor to the UN regular budget and peacekeeping assessments. We have supported the UN’s work in various fields through establishing the Peace and Development Trust Fund with the UN. Those are all part of China’s contribution to world peace and development.

China is among the first countries to meet the UN Millennium Development Goals. We are actively implementing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, deepening South-South cooperation and doing what we can to support other developing countries’ sustainable development efforts. We launched the Global Development Initiative to revitalize the global development partnership, deepen practical cooperation in eight key areas and help speed up the realization of the 2030 Agenda.

We have actively participated in international affairs. China is a member of almost all universal inter-governmental organizations and a party to over 600 international conventions and amendments. We facilitated the conclusion of the Paris Agreement, announced our targets for carbon peaking and neutrality, and provided more than 2.2 billion doses of COVID vaccines to more than 120 countries and international organizations, contributing to the response to global challenges.

Today, our world, our times, and history are changing in ways like never before. Humanity faces unprecedented challenges. China believes that all countries need to act in the true spirit of multilateralism, and safeguard the international system with the UN at its core, the international order underpinned by international law and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. 

China is ready to work with all other countries to support the UN in playing a more active role in the noble cause of peace and development for humanity, advance humanity’s common values of peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, promote world peace and development, and strive to pursue a shared future for the human community.

Reuters: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said that he’s going to visit China next month. Can China confirm this and the details of his visit and whether or not French President Emmanuel Macron will accompany him?

Wang Wenbin: I have no information to offer for the time being.

Xinhua News Agency: The recently-concluded Plenary of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in October declared in an open statement the removal of Pakistan from its “grey list”. Do you have any comment?

Wang Wenbin: China welcomes the decision of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to remove Pakistan from its “grey list” and would like to send congratulations to Pakistan. This has been made possible thanks to Pakistan’s effort to firmly follow through on its political commitment and continuously improve and enhance its Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) system over the past five years despite the difficulties. This also shows international support and recognition of Pakistan’s endeavor in this regard. We look forward to Pakistan’s positive contributions to advancing international counterterrorism cooperation and protecting the security of the international financial system.

AFP: The Vatican said over the weekend that it had renewed an agreement with China on the appointment of bishops. Can you confirm this and provide any details on the agreement?

Wang Wenbin: On October 22, after friendly consultations, China and the Vatican agreed to a two-year extension of the provisional agreement on the appointment of bishops. The two sides will continue to maintain close communication and consultation, work for the sound implementation of the provisional agreement and continuously advance the process of improving relations.

Bloomberg: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese signed a bilateral security agreement on Saturday. Does the foreign ministry have any response?

Wang Wenbin: Bilateral exchanges and cooperation need to be conducive to mutual understanding and trust among countries in the region and regional peace and stability, rather than target any third party or undermine their interests.

The Asia-Pacific region does not need military blocs, still less groupings that could provoke bloc confrontation or stoke a new Cold War. People in the region will be on heightened alert and stand against any act that undermines regional peace and stability and hurts regional solidarity and cooperation.

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