An international symposium on strengthening the role of the United Nations and promoting multilateralism was held in Beijing on Monday, with participants generally believing that under the current circumstances, the role of the United Nations should be strengthened and multilateralism should be revitalized, in the interest of jointly addressing the various global challenges, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.
"On Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted an international symposium themed 'Strengthen the Role of the United Nations and Promote Multilateralism' in Beijing. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, delivered a written speech to the event," said Guo Jiakun, the spokesman, at a press conference in Beijing.
"Wang Yi said that the successful convening of the U.N. Summit of the Future last year reflected the common aspiration of the international community for supporting and promoting multilateralism, strengthening the role of the United Nations, and improving global governance. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and also the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations," Guo said.
"The international community hopes to see all countries work in solidarity and cooperation to uphold what is right, steer the direction of our era, defend fairness and justice, safeguard world peace and stability, and promote global development and prosperity. As a founding member of the United Nations and a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, China will continue to work with all sides to practice true multilateralism, safeguard the central role of the United Nations, and promote global governance that is based on extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefit, to bring stability to a changing and turbulent world, and to inject positive energy in building a more just and equitable global governance system," Guo continued.
At the symposium, U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Policy Guy Ryder emphasized the importance of China's support for multilateralism and the United Nations.
"U.N. Under-Secretary-General Ryder was invited to attend the symposium and delivered a speech. Assistant Foreign Minister Miao Deyu attended the symposium's opening and closing ceremonies and delivered speeches. The participants had an active discussion on topics such as sustainable development, international peace and security, scientific and technological innovation and digital cooperation, youth and future generations. It was generally believed that under the current situation, the role of the United Nations should be strengthened, multilateralism should be revitalized, solidarity and cooperation should be promoted, and various global challenges should be jointly addressed. They expressed appreciation over China's positive and constructive role in these regards," the spokesman noted.

International symposium held in Beijing on strengthening U.N.'s role, promoting multilateralism: spokesman