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Wang Yi Holds a Virtual Meeting with Geneva-based Diplomatic Envoys from Asian and African Developing Countries

2022-08-15 23:55

On August 15, 2022, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a virtual meeting with visiting Geneva-based diplomatic envoys from Asian and African developing countries.

Wang Yi recalled President Xi Jinping’s historical speech at the United Nations Office at Geneva during his special visit in 2017 in which he elaborated on the vision and connotation of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and pointed out the direction of joint effort to advance human civilization and world peace and development. Wang noted that China has completed the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and solved the problem of absolute poverty for the first time in China’s history, lifting an equivalent of 70 percent of the world's poor population out of poverty in the country. China has met the poverty reduction target of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ten years ahead of schedule, and is marching toward the goal of common prosperity. The realization of modernization for the more than 1.4 billion Chinese people will in itself be a big boost to human development. Following the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, China will work in unity with other developing to promote common development and prosperity, and make the planet, our only common home, a better place.

Wang Yi noted that in the face of the unabated COVID-19 pandemic, turbulent in international situation, and resurging Cold War mentality, a strong United Nations is needed more than ever. It is important to firmly uphold the UN-centered international system, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Efforts should be made to further increase the representation and say of the vast number of developing countries. Multilateral institutions should not become tools for individual countries or blocs of countries to manipulate decision-making on international affairs. China's vote at the United Nations has belonged and will always belong to developing countries, and China will continue to speak out for developing countries.

Wang Yi briefed them on China’s progress in human rights cause, noting that China is open-minded about carrying out human rights-related exchanges and cooperation with other countries on the basis of equality and mutual respect, so as to learn from each other for common progress.

Wang Yi expounded on the historical ins and outs of and the stern position of China on the Taiwan question, stressing that each time the US makes blatant provocations, China is obliged to make necessary responses, which is reasonable and justified. What China does is exercising its legitimate right to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and defending the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, which is a "golden rule" for state-to-state exchanges and the essential safeguards for the very survival of developing countries.

Ambassador Lansana Gberie, Sierra Leone's Permanent Representative to the UN Office and other International Organizations in Geneva, and Ambassador Thabang Matjama, Permanent Representative of Lesotho to the United Nations Office at Geneva, spoke on behalf of the envoys. They expressed gratitude for China's thoughtful arrangements despite the pandemic, saying that they look forward to extensive exchanges with various Chinese departments to closely observe and experience China's development and changes. They commended the remarkable achievements of China and the leadership it has demonstrated. They appreciated China's commitment to promoting development, progress and social equality, and expressed readiness to maintain friendly bilateral relations and strengthen multilateral coordination with China for the common good of mankind.

The envoys noted that the one-China principle recognized by the UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 is a consensus of the international community and the political foundation on which countries develop bilateral relations with China. Both Taiwan and Xinjiang are part of China, and there shall be no interference in China’s internal affairs, or in any countries’ internal affairs. Human rights issues should not be politicized, and the justified measures of China to uphold its rights should be firmly supported by the international community.

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At the invitation of China, a delegation of Geneva-based diplomatic envoys from Sierra Leone, Lesotho, Eritrea, Côte d'Ivoire, Zimbabwe, Iraq, Gambia, Somalia, Cameroon and Laos have recently arrived in China, and will visit Guangdong and Xinjiang.

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