Xi Jinping's speech at the general debate of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly

"Click to view details

Strengthen confidence to overcome difficulties

Work together to build a better world

Speech at the general debate of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly

Xi Jinping, President of the people's Republic of China

Mr President,

2021 is an extremely special year for the Chinese people. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the legitimate seat of the people's Republic of China in the United Nations. China will solemnly commemorate this historic event. We will continue to actively promote the cooperation between China and the United Nations to a new level and continue to make new and greater contributions to the lofty cause of the United Nations.

Mr President!

A year ago, leaders of all countries jointly attended a series of summits on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and issued a political declaration, promising cooperation in the fight against the epidemic, working together to meet challenges, adhering to multilateralism, strengthening the role of the United Nations, and building a common future for present and future generations.

Over the past year, major changes not seen in the world in a century and the COVID-19 epidemic have had a mixed impact on the global pandemic. The people of all countries have more ardent expectations for peaceful development, stronger calls for fairness and justice, and stronger pursuit of win-win cooperation.

At present, the epidemic is still raging all over the world, and human society has been profoundly changed. The world has entered a new period of upheaval and change. Every responsible politician must answer the issues of the times and make historical choices with confidence, courage and responsibility.

First, we must overcome the epidemic and win this major struggle that has a bearing on the future and destiny of mankind. A history of world civilization is also the history of the struggle against the plague, and mankind has always achieved greater development and progress in constantly overcoming challenges. Although the epidemic is fierce, we will win it in the end.

We must adhere to the supremacy of the people and life, and take care of everyone's life, value and dignity. It is necessary to carry forward the spirit of science, uphold a scientific attitude, follow scientific laws, coordinate regular and precise prevention and control and emergency handling, and co-ordinate epidemic prevention and control and economic and social development. It is necessary to strengthen international joint prevention and control to minimize the risk of cross-border transmission of the epidemic.

Vaccine is a sharp weapon to overcome the epidemic. I have stressed many times that in order to make vaccines a global public good and to ensure the accessibility and affordability of developing countries, it is imperative to distribute vaccines fairly and reasonably around the world. China will strive to provide 2 billion doses of vaccine for the whole year and donate another 100 million doses of vaccine to developing countries free of charge this year on the basis of donating 100 million US dollars to the novel coronavirus Vaccine implementation Plan. China will continue to support and participate in global scientific tracing and resolutely oppose any form of political manipulation.

Second, we must revive the economy and promote stronger, greener and healthier global development. Development is the key to realizing the happiness of the people. In the face of the serious impact of the epidemic, we will jointly promote global development to a new stage of balance, coordination and inclusion. Here, I would like to put forward the Global Development Initiative:

-- persisting in giving priority to development. We should put development in a prominent position in the global macro policy framework, strengthen policy coordination in major economies, maintain continuity, stability and sustainability, build a more equitable and balanced global partnership for development, promote synergy in the process of multilateral development cooperation, and accelerate the implementation of the United Nations 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development.

-- persisting in taking the people as the center. In the course of development, we should protect and improve people's livelihood, protect and promote human rights, ensure that development is for the people, development depends on the people, the fruits of development are shared by the people, and constantly enhance people's sense of well-being, achievement and sense of security, so as to achieve people's all-round development.

-- adhere to inclusive inclusion. We should pay attention to the special needs of developing countries, support developing countries, especially fragile countries with particularly great difficulties, through debt relief and development assistance, and strive to solve the problem of uneven and inadequate development between and within countries.

-- persisting in innovation-driven. Seize the historic opportunity of the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial change, accelerate the transformation of scientific and technological achievements into realistic productive forces, create an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for scientific and technological development, tap the new momentum of economic growth after the epidemic, and work hand in hand to achieve leapfrog development.

-- adhere to the harmonious symbiosis between man and nature. We will improve global environmental governance, actively deal with climate change, and build a community of human and natural life. We will speed up the transformation of green and low carbon and achieve green recovery and development. China will strive to achieve carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, which will require hard work, but we will do our best. China will strongly support the green and low-carbon development of energy in developing countries and will no longer build new overseas coal-fired power projects.

-- adhere to the orientation of action. We will increase investment in development resources, focus on promoting cooperation in the areas of poverty reduction, food security, anti-epidemic and vaccination, financing for development, climate change and green development, industrialization, digital economy, and connectivity, accelerate the implementation of the United Nations 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development and build a global community with a shared future for development. China has announced that it will provide another 3 billion US dollars in international aid in the next three years to support developing countries in fighting the epidemic and restoring economic and social development.

Third, we must strengthen unity and practice the concept of mutual respect and win-win cooperation in international relations. A world of peaceful development should bear different forms of civilization and must be compatible with the diverse paths to modernization. Democracy is not the patent of any country, but the right of the people of all countries. Recent developments in the international situation have proved once again that external military interference and the so-called democratic transformation cause endless harm. We should vigorously promote the common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom for all mankind, and abandon coterie and zero-sum games.

It is inevitable that there are differences and contradictions between countries, but dialogue and cooperation should be carried out on the basis of equality and mutual respect. The success of one country does not mean that another country is bound to fail. The world fully tolerates the common growth and progress of all countries. We should adhere to dialogue rather than confrontation, tolerance and exclusion, build a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness and justice, and win-win cooperation, expand the convergence of interests, and draw the greatest concentric circle.

What the Chinese nation inherits and pursues is the concept of peace, harmony and harmony. We have not done so in the past and will not invade or bully others, nor will we seek hegemony. China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of international order and a provider of public goods, and will continue to provide new opportunities for the world with China's new development.

Fourth, we must improve global governance and practice true multilateralism. There is only one system in the world, that is, the international system with the United Nations at its core. There is only one order, that is, the international order based on international law. There is only one set of rules, that is, the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

The United Nations should hold high the banner of true multilateralism and become a core platform for all countries to jointly safeguard universal security, share the fruits of development, and jointly control the destiny of the world. We should strive to stabilize the international order, enhance the representation and voice of the vast number of developing countries in international affairs, and take the lead in promoting the democratization and rule of law of international relations. It is necessary to balance and promote work in the three major areas of security, development and human rights, formulate a common agenda, focus on outstanding issues, and focus on taking action to implement the commitment of all parties to multilateralism.

Mr President!

The world stands at the crossroads of history again. I firmly believe that the trend of peaceful development and progress of mankind is irresistible. Let us strengthen our confidence, join hands to deal with global threats and challenges, promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and jointly build a better world!