China calls for equal-footed dialogue to resolve trade disputes: spokesman

China always believes all parties need to solve economic and trade disputes through equal-footed dialogue and consultation, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a press briefing in Beijing on Thursday.

He made the statement when asked to comment on Thursday's announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump of a trade agreement with South Korea that imposes a 15 percent tariff on South Korean imports.

"China, as always, believes all parties need to solve economic and trade disputes through equal-footed dialogue and consultation, uphold a sound environment in international economic and trade cooperation and abide by the WTO rules," Guo said.

The multilateral system is "under attack" amid global turmoil, President of the 80th UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock warned in her remarks on Wednesday.

In her briefing on the priorities for the resumed 80th Session of the General Assembly, the UNGA president noted that the current multilateral system does not collapse all in a sudden, but "crumbles piece by piece" in divisions, compromises, and lack of political commitment.

The president called all the UN member states to defend the UN Charter and international law and promote cross-regional cooperation.

She also urged to push forward the work of the UNGA on certain critical issues with a strong majority, rather than an absolute consensus among all member states. Such act is not a failure of multilateralism, but "an affirmation of it," she said.

The foundational principles of the institution should not be eroded by appeasement, she said, calling the member states to show courage, leadership, and responsibility at the UN's "critical make-or-break moment."

"The UN needs you. Your support, your leadership, your principle, stand, your cross-regional cooperation, if we are to preserve and modernize this institution, if we are to make it, rather than break it," she said.