China expects reaffirmed commitment to multilateralism at upcoming UN Security Council meeting: spokesman

China expects the participants of the upcoming United Nations Security Council high-level open debate to reaffirm their commitment to multilateralism, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun at a press conference in Beijing on Monday.

As the rotating President of the UN Security Council for February, China will hold a Security Council high-level event on Feb 18 under the theme of "Practicing Multilateralism, Reforming and Improving Global Governance," Guo said, adding Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will chair the Security Council event.

"This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the UN. This is an important year of joint commemoration and a historical moment bridging the past and the future. This Security Council high-level open debate we proposed to convene will review the original aspiration of the UN, draw up a vision for a wonderful future, and raise the curtain for a series of activities celebrating the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN," Guo said. "As global challenges keep emerging, and as the security disorder, development imbalances and ineffective governance become increasingly prominent, it's a trend of our times and a shared responsibility of all countries to reform and improve global governance. Last September, the UN Summit of the Future adopted the UN Pact for the Future and put forward multiple ambitious action initiatives on reinvigorating multilateralism and reforming global governance," the spokesman noted.

"We expect the participants to take this Security Council high-level open debate as an opportunity to look back at the history of the UN, reaffirm their solemn commitment to multilateralism, demonstrate their firm determination to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, enhance cooperation on multilateral platforms including the UN and the Security Council, accelerate the implementation of the UN Pact for the Future, and contribute more wisdom and strength to fostering a more equitable and reasonable global governance system," Guo said.

Upcoming UN Security Council meeting hoped to reaffirm commitment to multilateralism: spokesman

Demonstrators rallied across U.S. cities over the weekend to denounce the military action in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, who were flown out of the country.

The Venezuelan government said the military strikes targeted civilian and military sites in at least four states, including Caracas, as well as the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, adding that the U.S. action blatantly violated the UN Charter.

The U.S. military intervention has since drawn widespread criticism, sparking protests at home.

Protesters gathered outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on Sunday, where Maduro is being held, calling the U.S. government actions outrageous and a violation of international law.

Others gathered in the Times Square on Saturday following the capture of the Venezuelan president and his wife, saying the actions are not only illegal but also showed no respect.

"I mean, you don't just step in and take over another country. We have absolutely no right to do that. We have so much trouble in our country right here," said a protester named Sartre.

"It just defies not only human respectability in life but common sense," said another protester.

Additionally, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the White House, holding banners with slogans reading "Hands off Venezuela" and "Stop bombing Venezuela now."

Demonstrators rally in US cities over military action in Venezuela