On Jun 2, the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China, together with the Permanent Missions of Venezuela, Russia, Belarus, Cuba, Iran, Nicaragua, Syria and Zimbabwe, co-hosted the Webinar “The Impact of Unilateral Coercive Measures (UCMs) on the Global Fight Against the COVID-19: Upholding the UN Charter, Promoting International Cooperation and Ensuring No One is Left Behind in Times of Pandemic”. H.E. Mrs. Maria Fernanda Espinosa, President of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, moderated the event. Ambassador Zhang Jun attended the meeting and delivered remarks.

Ambassador Zhang pointed out that UCMs run counter to multilateralism and the basic norms of international relations. Over the years, UCMs have undermined the sanctioned countries’ ability to mobilize resources, develop the economy, and improve people’s living standards, making innocent civilians the biggest victims. Facing this unprecedented human crisis caused by COVID-19 Pandemic, some countries still insist on UCMs, which only make things worse.

Ambassador Zhang stressed that UCMs severely disrupt the already fragile global trade and supply chains, weaken the vulnerable countries’ ability to respond, and hinder the post-pandemic recovery and development of sanctioned countries, which will delay the final victory of the global fight against the pandemic and may cause irreparable losses to the global implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as well as the cause of development. Besides, the United States uses national power to suppress on foreign companies, sabotages international cooperation on science and technology, and abuses long arm jurisdiction. Such acts of bullying have further violated other countries’ rights of self-development, seriously undermined the world economy, and triggered a series of negative consequences.

Ambassador Zhang said that all members of the international community should respond positively to Secretary-General’s appeals, make every effort to tackle the impact of UCMs, and help sanctioned countries overcome the difficulties.

First, we should urge the relevant countries to immediately lift unilateral coercive measures and work with the international community to fight the pandemic and get through this difficult time.

Second, the UN and other international organizations should provide sanctioned countries with timely and effective support to help them address the economic and social impact of the pandemic, and ease the difficulties facing the people. China is among the first to act, and has provided a large amount of assistance to countries in need and will continue to do so.

Third, the UN General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Human Rights Council and other agencies should explore solutions from different angles to fundamentally eliminate the impact of unilateral coercive measures.

Fourth, we should jointly practice multilateralism, firmly uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, resolutely oppose hegemonism, power politics and bullying practice, and create a favorable international environment for countries to win the fight against the disease and achieve rapid recovery and sustainable development. Permanent Representatives and experts participating in the webinar agreed that UCMs are a severe violation of UN Charter and principles of international law, which harm the right to development and ability to achieve SDGs of sanctioned countries. The international community should work in solidarity to effectively eliminate the impacts of UCMs, help developing countries fight the pandemic and achieve inclusive and sustainable development.