Chinese state councilor calls for safeguarding multilateralism

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday called for safeguarding multilateralism, deepening cooperation in addressing common challenges and sticking to consultations in solving regional hot issues while attending the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, on Friday, August 2, 2019. [Photo: fmprc.gov.cn]

All the countries are facing risks and challenges as the international situation has been undergoing profound changes and uncertainties still remain with the rise and spread of unilateralism and protectionism, Wang said.

For the region to seize the opportunities and stand up to the challenges in order to realize long-term stability and sustainable development, the Chinese state councilor put forward the following three proposals:

First, firmly upholding multilateralism. All the countries should firmly safeguard the international system based on international laws including the United Nations Charter, and the multilateral trading system with the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core.

Unilateral trade sanctions and imposing additional tariffs unilaterally are against the rules of WTO and will not help solve trade disputes at all.

Secondly, joining hands to tackle transnational challenges including terrorism.

"Only if we keep aware of the concept of building a community of shared future for mankind and join hands for cooperation in a responsible manner, can we succeed in maintaining our common security and lasting prosperity."

Thirdly, Solving regional hot issues through dialogues and consultations.

Different issues have different root causes. Sanctions, threats and imposing pressure can only intensify contradictions and complicate issues. Dialogues and consultation are the right choices to resolve contradictions and differences.