China urges Paraguay to heed call of its people: spokesman

We hope the Paraguayan government will listen to their voices and make the right choice that truly serves the fundamental and long-term interests of its people, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a press briefing in Beijing on Friday.

Guo was responding to a media query about the recent remarks made by the acting house speaker of Paraguay who said that Paraguay is "wasting time" on Taiwan, which is merely a province of China, and Paraguay should seriously discuss developing relations with China based on national interests.

Commenting on the remarks, Guo called on the Paraguayan government to make the right choice that truly serves the fundamental and long-term interests of its people.

"We have heard the similar voices multiple times that reflect the strong wishes of many Paraguayan people. In recent years, more and more Paraguayan friends have realized that the country should not continue to be an 'outlier' of the international community and turn its back on China. We hope the Paraguayan government will listen to their voices and make the right choice that truly serves the fundamental and long-term interests of its people. We also welcome more Paraguayan friends to come to visit China, witness its development firsthand, experience the openness and inclusiveness of Chinese culture, and gain a deeper understanding of a real China," said Guo.

China urges Paraguay to heed call of its people: spokesman

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.

UNGA President warns global multilateral system "under attack"

UNGA President warns global multilateral system "under attack"