‘Promote peace, honour spirit of Mandela’

CHINESE State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi says the proper way to remember Nelson Mandela is to promote the spirit of peace, reconciliation, equality and inclusiveness he advocated.

While affirming Mandela’s values are conducive to the cause of the UN, Wang cautioned that unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, posing severe challenges to the UN-centred international system.

Speaking at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit at the UN General Assembly, Wang called on the international community to unite under the banner of multilateralism, uphold the core role of the UN in international affairs and provide more stable predicability in a turbulent world.

He praised Mandela for his commitment to political negotiations to advance peace and reconciliation in South Africa, saying he set an example for those countries or regions in conflict to realise national reconciliation.

Wang also spoke of Mandela’s advice that eradicating poverty was protecting basic human rights, noting that many global problems have their root causes in poverty; the sure way out is through development.

“The world needs to address both the symptoms and the root causes of conflicts, implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and help developing countries improve their people’s livelihood and enhance development for peace to be sustained.”

The top Chinese diplomat also said Mandela was one of the founders of the South Africa-China relationship.

“China and Africa are a community with a shared future that pursues winwin co-operation. Unity and co-operation with African countries is an important basis of China’s foreign policy,” Wang said, recalling the success of the recent Forum on China-Africa Co-operation held in Beijing.

Wang called on all countries to take Mandela’s centenary as a new starting point to jointly build lasting peace and universal security.

Earlier, UN member states adopted the first resolution of the General Assembly’s 73rd session, “committing to demonstrate mutual respect, tolerance, understanding and reconciliation in relations”.