China’s Xi calls for jointly facing challenges at UNGA

Speaking at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA),China’s President Xi Jinping on Tuesday proposed a Global Development Initiative, calling for bolstering confidence, jointly addressing global threats and challenges to build a better world for all. 

The Chinese president pointed out Covid-19 was still raging and emphasized the need to beat the pandemic and win the decisive fight crucial to the future of humanity.” 

He called for putting people and their lives first, taking a science-based approach in origins tracing, enhancing coordinated global Covid-19 response and minimizing the risk of cross-border virus transmission. 

Vaccination he added remained a powerful weapon against Covid-19 and priority should be to ensure the fair and equitable distribution of vaccines globally.

He deplored the fact that some countries had adopted a selfish strategy of vaccine nationalism and even put restrictions on export of COVID-19 vaccines.

China he said, would strive to provide two billion doses of vaccines to the world by the end of this year. “In addition to donating 100 million US dollars to COVAX, China will donate 100 million doses of vaccines to other developing countries in the course of this year”. 

Climate change and poverty alleviation
Xi called on countries to work together to steer global development toward a new stage of balanced, coordinated and inclusive growth.

He stressed the need for prioritising cooperation on poverty alleviation, food security, climate change and green development, industrialization, and an accelerated implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for 
Sustainable Development.

To support developing countries in responding to COVID-19 and promoting economic and social recovery, China has pledged an additional three billion US dollars of international assistance in the next three years Xi said. 
Referring to the problem of climate change Xi said China had already announced to strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. He pledged China would not build new coal-fired power projects abroad and would extend support to developing countries develop green and low-carbon energy.

Democracy and freedom
Referring to the formation of military groupings, Xi said China advocated peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, which are the common values of humanity. China rejects the practice of forming small circles or zero-sum games he said.

Democracy the Chinese president added was not a special right reserved to particular countries, but a right for the people of all countries to enjoy. He pointed out recent global events had shown, external military intervention and attempts to parachute democratic norms do more harm than good.

He called for building of a new international order based on mutual respect, equity and justice.

Concluding his remarks the Chinese president called on the UN to increase the representation and say of developing countries in international affairs, and take the lead in advancing democracy and the rule of law in 
international relations.
China, (Global Times), 
22 September 
2021)