Xi stresses multilateralism
President hails friendship, cooperation with Indonesia, Belarus, Malta
President Xi Jinping, in phone conversations with the leaders of Indonesia, Belarus and Malta, has called for strengthening ties, deepening cooperation and upholding true multilateralism to face mounting regional and global challenges, pledging China’s continuing support.
In a phone conversation with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Jan 11, Xi called on China and Indonesia to jointly fight the COVID-19 pandemic and build a model of health cooperation, saying that China will continue to help Indonesia in its efforts to foster a regional vaccine production hub.
China will also deepen its cooperation with the Southeast Asian country in the entire industrial chain of vaccine production and the research and development of medicines, Xi said.
Since last year, China-Indonesia relations have made progress amid the pandemic and the two nations have built a new paradigm of bilateral cooperation with the establishment of a high-level dialogue and cooperation mechanism, Xi said.
China and Indonesia are two developing countries that share the common goals of seeking development and happiness for their peoples, Xi said, pointing out that the key to achieving these goals is to get specific things done well.
He called on the two countries to align the Belt and Road Initiative with their respective development plans, promote the high-quality construction of the Jakarta-Bandung highspeed railway, and foster new growth areas such as new energy, digital economy and maritime cooperation.
China will actively participate with all-out efforts in anything that could help boost Indonesia’s development and deepen China-Indonesia cooperation, Xi said.
Noting that China highly values Indonesia’s role in regional and international affairs, Xi said that China is willing to work with Indonesia to promote economic recovery in the region and safeguard regional peace and stability.
This year, China will serve as the rotating chair of BRICS and Indonesia will chair the G20.
Xi said that China stands ready to work with Indonesia to practice true multilateralism, implement the Global Development Initiative, safeguard the interests of emerging market economies and developing countries, and contribute to global economic development and the improvement of global economic governance.
Indonesian President Widodo said the two countries made remarkable achievements in health and public cooperation last year and 80 percent of his country’s vaccines came from China, adding that the good relationship between Indonesia and China is because it is based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation.
Indonesia welcomes Chinese companies to invest in the country and wishes the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics success, Widodo said.
Earlier, in separate phone conversations with the presidents of Belarus and Malta, President Xi said on Jan 10 that China stands ready to work with the international community to practice true multilateralism amid regional and global complexities.
In his conversation with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Xi said the two countries have coordinated effectively on multilateral occasions, such as at the United Nations, and firmly supported each other’s core interests, embodying the strategic value of China-Belarus cooperation.
Under the new circumstances, the two sides should continue close coordination, practice true multilateralism and stay committed to the UNcentered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, he said.
China is opposed to external interference in the domestic affairs of Belarus and will always support the Eastern European country as it follows a development path that conforms to its own conditions, Xi added.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Belarus.
Xi said that over the past three decades, the two countries have become comprehensive strategic partners with fruitful results achieved in the joint building of the Belt and Road and major projects such as the ChinaBelarus Industrial Park.
Standing at the new starting point presented by the anniversary, the two sides should expand bilateral trade, boost cooperation in such areas as innovation, digital development and COVID-19 vaccines, and ensure the sustainable development of the China-Europe Railway Express.
Lukashenko said his country hopes to maintain close communication and coordination with China amid profound and complex changes, both regionally and internationally.
In his phone conversation with Maltese President George Vella, Xi hailed China and Malta as timetested old friends and good friends, saying that the two nations offer a model for relations between countries of different sizes and with different social systems, histories and cultures.
As this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Malta, Xi called on the two countries to be committed to mutual respect and mutual trust, promote the joint building of the Belt and Road, and expand cooperation in key areas including trade and investment, health and clean energy.
Noting that Malta has always been strong in promoting China-European Union relations, Xi said that China will work with the southern European country to jointly keep the general direction of China-EU cooperation and promote the sound and stable development of China-EU ties.
Xi also said that all preparation work for the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games is basically done, and China will host the Games in a simple, safe and wonderful manner with the support of the international community.
Vella said his country cherishes the precious opportunities brought by the joint building of the Belt and Road and will proceed with related cooperation.