Bolstering Confidence and Jointly Overcoming Difficulties to Build a Better World

Bolstering Confidence and Jointly Overcoming Difficulties to Build a Better World* Xi Jinping President of the People’s Republic of China The United Nations (UN) should hold high the banner of true multilateralism and serve as the central platform for countries to jointly safeguard universal security, share development achievements and chart the course for the future of the world. The UN should stay committed to ensuring a stable international order, increasing the representation and say of developing countries in international affairs, and taking the lead in advancing democracy and rule of law in international relations. The UN should advance, in a balanced manner, work in all the three areas of security, development and human rights.

Xi Jinping's speech at the 76th General Assembly of the Mr. President,

United Nations General Assembly on September 21, A year ago, global leaders attended the high-le-

2021. vel meetings marking the 75th anniversary of the

Mr. President, UN and issued a declaration pledging to fight CO-

The year 2021 is a truly remarkable one for the VID-19 in solidarity, tackle challenges together,

Chinese people. This year marks the centenary of the uphold multilateralism, strengthen the role of the

Communist Party of China. It is also the 50th an- UN, and work for the common future of present

niversary of the restoration of the lawful seat of the and coming generations.

People’s Republic of China in the United Nations, a One year on, our world is facing the combined

historic event which will be solemnly commemora- impacts of changes unseen in a century and the

ted by China. We will continue our active efforts to COVID-19 pandemic. In all countries, people long

take China’s cooperation with the United Nations to for peace and development more than ever before,

a new level and make new and greater contributions their call for equity and justice is growing stronger,

to advancing the noble cause of the UN. and they are more determined in pursuing win-win

* The text is retrieved from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Website, https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/ mfa_eng/wjdt_665385/zyjh_665391/202109/t20210922_9580293.html

How to cite: Xi, J. (2022). Bolstering confidence and jointly overcoming difficulties to build a better World. Belt & Road Initiative Quarterly (BRIQ), 3(3), 50-53.

cooperation. countries. Of pressing priority is to ensure the fair

Right now, COVID-19 is still raging in the wor- and equitable distribution of vaccines globally. Chi-

ld, and profound changes are taking place in hu- na will strive to provide a total of two billion doses

man society. The world has entered a period of new of vaccines to the world by the end of this year. In

turbulence and transformation. It falls on each and addition to donating 100 million US dollars to CO-

every responsible statesman to answer the questions VAX, China will donate 100 million doses of vacci-

of our times and make a historical choice with con- nes to other developing countries in the course of

fidence, courage and a sense of mission. this year. China will continue to support and engage

in global science-based origins tracing, and stands firmly opposed to political maneuvering in whate-

Staying committed to development as ver form.

a prio­rity. We need to put development Second, we must revitalize the economy and high on the glo­bal macro policy pursue more robust, greener and more balanced agenda, strengthen policy coordi­nation global development. Development holds the key among major economies, and ensure

policy continuity, consistency and to people’s well-being. Facing the severe shocks of

sustainability. COVID-19, we need to work together to steer global

development toward a new stage of balanced, coor-

First, we must beat COVID-19 and win this dinated and inclusive growth. To this end, I would

decisive fight crucial to the future of humanity. like to propose a Global Development Initiative.

The history of world civilization is also one of figh- Staying committed to development as a prio-

ting pandemics. Rising to challenges, humanity has rity. We need to put development high on the glo-

always emerged in triumph and achieved greater bal macro policy agenda, strengthen policy coordi-

development and advancement. The current pan- nation among major economies, and ensure policy

demic may appear overwhelming, but we humanity continuity, consistency and sustainability. We need

will surely overcome it and prevail. to foster global development partnerships that are

We should always put people and their lives first, more equal and balanced, forge greater synergy

and care about the life, value and dignity of every among multilateral development cooperation pro-

individual. We need to respect science, take a scien- cesses, and speed up the implementation of the UN

ce-based approach, and follow the laws of science. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

We need to both follow routine, targeted COVID-19 Staying committed to a people-centered ap-

protocols and take emergency response measures, proach. We should safeguard and improve people’s

and both carry out epidemic control and promote livelihoods and protect and promote human rights

economic and social development. We need to en- through development, and make sure that develop-

hance coordinated global COVID-19 response and ment is for the people and by the people, and that

minimize the risk of cross-border virus transmissi- its fruits are shared among the people. We should

on. continue our work so that the people will have a

Vaccination is our powerful weapon against CO- greater sense of happiness, benefit and security, and

VID-19. I have stressed on many occasions the need achieve well-rounded development.

to make vaccines a global public good and ensure Staying committed to benefits for all. We

vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing should care about the special needs of developing

President Xi Jinping addresses the general debate of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Sept 21, 2021. (Xinhua, 2021Xinhua (2021). The source article does not provide a separate full bibliographic entry for this citation.)

countries. We may employ such means as debt sus- and development. China will strive to peak carbon

pension and development aid to help developing dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon

countries, particularly vulnerable ones facing excep- neutrality before 2060. This requires tremendous

tional difficulties, with emphasis on addressing un- hard work, and we will make every effort to meet

balanced and inadequate development among and these goals. China will step up support for other de-

within countries. veloping countries in developing green and low-car-

Staying committed to innovation-driven de- bon energy, and will not build new coal-fired power

velopment. We need to seize the historic opportu- projects abroad.

nities created by the latest round of technological Staying committed to results-oriented actions.

revolution and industrial transformation, redouble We need to increase input in development, advance

efforts to harness technological achievements to bo- on a priority basis cooperation on poverty alleviati-

ost productivity, and foster an open, fair, equitable on, food security, COVID-19 response and vaccines,

and non-discriminatory environment for the deve- development financing, climate change and green

lopment of science and technology. We should foster development, industrialization, digital economy and

new growth drivers in the post-COVID era and jo- connectivity, among other areas, and accelerate imp-

intly achieve leapfrog development. lementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable

Staying committed to harmony between man Development, so as to build a global community of

and nature. We need to improve global environmen- development with a shared future. China has pled-

tal governance, actively respond to climate change ged an additional three billion US dollars of inter-

and create a community of life for man and natu- national assistance in the next three years to support

re. We need to accelerate transition to a green and developing countries in responding to COVID-19

low-carbon economy and achieve green recovery and promoting economic and social recovery.

Third, we must strengthen solidarity and pro- mony. China has never and will never invade or bully

mote mutual respect and win-win cooperation in others, or seek hegemony. China is always a builder

conducting international relations. A world of pe- of world peace, contributor to global development,

ace and development should embrace civilizations of defender of the international order and provider of

various forms, and must accommodate diverse paths public goods. China will continue to bring the world

to modernization. Democracy is not a special right new opportunities through its new development.

reserved to an individual country, but a right for Fourth, we must improve global governance

the people of all countries to enjoy. Recent develop- and practice true multilateralism. In the world,

ments in the global situation show once again that there is only one international system, i.e. the inter-

military intervention from the outside and so-called national system with the United Nations at its core.

democratic transformation entail nothing but harm. There is only one international order, i.e. the interna-

We need to advocate peace, development, equity, tional order underpinned by international law. And

justice, democracy and freedom, which are the com- there is only one set of rules, i.e. the basic norms go-

mon values of humanity, and reject the practice of verning international relations underpinned by the

forming small circles or zero-sum games. purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

The UN should hold high the banner of true multilateralism and serve as the central platform

The world is once again at a historical for countries to jointly safeguard universal secu-

crossroads. I am convinced that the rity, share development achievements and chart the

trend of peace, development and course for the future of the world. The UN should

advancement for humanity is irresistible. stay committed to ensuring a stable international

Let us bolster confidence and jointly order, increasing the representation and say of deve-

address global threats and challenges. loping countries in international affairs, and taking

the lead in advancing democracy and rule of law in

Differences and problems among countries, hard- international relations. The UN should advance, in

ly avoidable, need to be handled through dialogue a balanced manner, work in all the three areas of se-

and cooperation on the basis of equality and mutu- curity, development and human rights. It should set

al respect. One country’s success does not have to common agenda, highlight pressing issues and fo-

mean another country’s failure, and the world is big cus on real actions, and see to it that commitments

enough to accommodate common development and made by all parties to multilateralism are truly de-

progress of all countries. We need to pursue dialogue livered.

and inclusiveness over confrontation and exclusion. Mr. President,

We need to build a new type of international relations The world is once again at a historical crossroads.

based on mutual respect, equity, justice and win-win I am convinced that the trend of peace, development

cooperation, and do the best we can to expand the and advancement for humanity is irresistible. Let us

convergence of our interests and achieve the biggest bolster confidence and jointly address global threats

synergy possible. and challenges, and work together to build a commu-

The Chinese people have always celebrated and nity with a shared future for mankind and a better

striven to pursue the vision of peace, amity and har- world for all.