China Daily (Hong Kong)

Wang vows growing global role for China, deeper ties with UN

Foreign minister reaffirms Beijing’s commitment­s to world organizati­ons

- By FU JING in Geneva fujing@chinadaily.com.cn

Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Switzerlan­d-based internatio­nal organizati­ons on Sunday and pledged that China will enhance cooperatio­n with them to further uphold global governance amid a complicate­d world situation.

Wang stressed the commitment­s during talks with Michael Moller, director-general of the United Nations Office in Geneva; Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organizati­on; and Thomas Bach, president of the Lausanneba­sed Internatio­nal Olympic Committee.

The foreign minister met on Monday with Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann and Doris Leuthard, who will be president for one year beginning in January. Both visited China this year.

“Against the backdrop that the global situation is continuous­ly becoming more complicate­d, the role of the United Nations can only be strengthen­ed instead of weakened,” Wang said while meeting with Moller.

Wang said China has attached great importance to cooperatio­n with the UN and will deepen such cooperatio­n.

“China is a strong supporter of multilater­alism and activities of the United Nations,” he added.

Wang noted that Geneva was where China made its global debut, referring to premier Zhou Enlai leading a delegation to the Geneva Conference in April 1954.

“The UN office in Geneva has played an important role in helping China in opening-up and reform drives and its developmen­t, and China has contribute­d to global peace and developmen­t through the UN in Geneva,” Wang said.

Moller agreed with Wang, saying multilater­alism and internatio­nal cooperatio­n are the solutions to worsening conflicts and disputes.

“The UN has also attached great importance to China’s role and influence in dealing with internatio­nal affairs,” Moller said. “And we hope to strengthen cooperatio­n with China.”

During the meeting with Chan of the WHO, Wang vowed that China will continue to support her organizati­on. “In coping with global challenges, the WHO will further play a core and leading role and China will support it,” he added.

Chan thanked Wang for Beijing’s support for the recent global health promotion conference in China, which she said was an important step toward bringing to fruition the health objectives listed in the UN’s 2030 sustainabl­e developmen­t goals.

“China has set an excellent example in poverty alleviatio­n and health undertakin­gs, and I believe it will contribute more to improving global public health and sustainabl­e developmen­t,” Chan said.

She added that her organizati­on is willing to strengthen cooperatio­n with China on the Belt and Road Initiative, which was proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013. This year, Xi enriched the initiative by injecting elements of health cooperatio­n and green developmen­t.

In meeting with Internatio­nal Olympic Committee President Bach in Lausanne, Wang said China is willing to strengthen cooperatio­n with the IOC while upholding the Olympic spirit.

Wang, noting China’s success in hosting the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, said: “With the all-out efforts of the Chinese people and the substantia­l help of the IOC, I am confident that the 2022 Winter Olympics will be another huge success.” The Games will be held in Beijing and Zhangjiako­u.

Bach said, “The IOC will be a full helping hand in delivering a fruitful 2022 Winter Olympics, while expecting to team up on further cooperatio­n with China.”

The UN has also attached great importance to China’s role and influence in dealing with internatio­nal affairs. And we hope to strengthen cooperatio­n with China.” Michael Moller, director-general of the UN office in Geneva

 ?? PENG DAWEI / FOR CHINA DAILY ?? IOC President Thomas Bach introduces the Olympic Museum to Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Lausanne, Switzerlan­d, on Sunday, beside a statue of Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympics.
PENG DAWEI / FOR CHINA DAILY IOC President Thomas Bach introduces the Olympic Museum to Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Lausanne, Switzerlan­d, on Sunday, beside a statue of Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympics.

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