Beijing, Oct 27 — China Ministry of Foreign Affairs and also Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Mr. Wang Yi has strongly emphasized the need for global countries to work together in order to push towards a common development aimed to enhance efficacy of global governance.
Foreign Affairs Minister made the remarks during the Lanting Forum staged at Beijing on Monday which gathered together different dignitaries, ambassadors, diplomats, and academics around the world under a theme: “Improving Global Governance to build a community with a shared future for humanity”.
Mr. Wang highlighted that the international trade is a key for the world economic growth, while the World Trade Organization (WTO) plays its role of safeguarding an open and inclusive trade environment that meet the fundamental interests of all side.
“The concrete action by China is a vote of confidence in the multilateral trading system. We call for an end in politicizing economic trade issues, to fragmenting the global market, and to reckless decisions of wage trade and tariffs wars”, he explained.
China Foreign Affairs Minister further said today the international cooperation on the development is losing steam, and the north and south gap is widening and as a result global countries should put development back at the center of international agenda, mobilize global resources for development and foster for an equal and balanced global development partnership.
“China has been advancing high quality Belt and Road cooperation with partner countries, benefiting over three-fourths of all countries in the world, we have implemented the ten-partnership action for modernization with African countries, carried out five programs with Latin American and Caribbean countries”, he highlighted.
Additionally, Mr. Wang said China will continue to open its doors even wider, citing that it will fully deliver on the zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines given to the least development countries and African countries having diplomatic relations with China, so as to share development opportunities with more countries and people.
He also stressed the need for global countries to stand together to tackle pressing challenges and shore up the weak links of global governance, highlighting that this year marks a 10th anniversary of Paris Agreement, adding that Climate change has become a pressing issue and as a result no country should be left behind, and none should shrink its responsibilities.
“Developed countries must earnestly fulfil their emission reduction commitments, provide financial and technical support to the developing countries. China stands ready to play an important role, honour its words with concrete actions and strive to do its utmost within its capability”, he added.
Mr. Wang further expressed China’s readiness on working with more closely with the international community on green technologies and industries in order to stay on the right track towards green transition.
On the other hand, he said science and technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace and global governance needs to keep up with times, citing that Artificial Intelligence (AI) should benefit all humanity; it should neither be monopolized by few countries nor maliciously abused.
“China is actively implementing the Global AI Governance Initiative and has initiated the World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO), to advance AI for good use and for all and support capacity building for global south countries”, he explained.
Meanwhile, during the panel of discussions which sparked a much heated debate over the theme; former Norwegian Minister of Environment and International Development Mr. Erik Solheim said many global south countries have been oppressed in many issues, citing that India and Africa must have representation in the UN Security Council, adding that UN need to shift focus from procedure to be results orientated.
Mr. Solheim further said China is dominant in the green transition with its continuing efforts of using clean energy, but it needs to share its green transition technology knowledge to Africa or everywhere so that jobs can be created and value being added globally, highlighting that there is a need for new and lasting global trade order which can rule in favour of inclusiveness of every nation.
Sharing the same sentiments, Former Director General of United Nations Educational, Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and also recipient of Chinese government Friendship award and Lifetime honorary Ms. Irina Bokova said the world is posed with different challenges which includes climate change, conflicts, technological revolution and the response should be global and that is where multilateralism should be really put in the centre of action.
Ms. Bokova added that with the China’s proposal global governance initiative, the moment is now and the most important issue is to put UN into the centre of multilateralism is it looks for a common good and it also initiate global responses for sustainable development, highlighting that China’s approach of win-win comes into a picture as it serves the well-being of the people.
Meanwhile, the China’s Global Governance Initiative (GGI) features and advocates for five core concepts which includes, sovereign equality to ensure participation in global affairs by all countries, international rule of law for a just and orderly global governance system, multilateralism for greater solidarity and cooperation among all countries, a people centred approach for universally beneficial and inclusive outcomes of global governance and lastly it seeks to achieve real results for pragmatic and global governance process.
Ends/RM
