Xi emphasizes commitment to multilateralism, cooperation in latest diplomatic engagements

Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized China's commitment to multilateralism and cooperation during a series of high-level diplomatic engagements last week, calling for deeper international collaboration and improved global governance. Meeting with Ireland's Taoiseach Micheal Martin on Monday, Xi emphasized the shared tradition of openness and inclusiveness between China and Ireland, calling for deeper cooperation under China's high-level opening-up policy.

He identified key areas for expanded collaboration, including artificial intelligence, the digital economy, medicine and healthcare, as well as education and cultural exchanges.

The talks also underscored a strong message on global governance.

Xi said unilateral and bullying acts are undermining the international order, urging all nations to uphold international law and the principles of the UN Charter.

With Ireland set to assume the rotating presidency of the European Union, Xi expressed hope that Ireland will play a constructive role in promoting stable and sound China-EU relations.

Xi's appeal is being met with pragmatic responses. In Europe, calls are growing for stronger cooperation with China on global challenges.

"If we together, China and Europe, we could agree on peace guarantees, respect and strengthening of international organizations to solve global problems like climate change, regulations of artificial intelligence (AI), or to solve pandemics, which will come in the future, then we are on the right track. Peace, stability, free and open trade, and cooperation on the international scene - if this is the case, then China and Europe would become partners, not rivals," said former Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schussel in a recent speech.

Also on Monday, Xi met with President Lee Jae Myung of the Republic of Korea, describing the two countries as friends and neighbors who should maintain close exchanges and communication.

Xi emphasized the importance of upholding friendly cooperation and achieving win-win outcomes, and called for deeper coordination in emerging sectors such as AI, green industries and the silver economy.

This drive for practical cooperation is echoed within the business and innovation communities.

"Investment by Chinese tech companies in the Republic of Korea is growing rapidly each year. The ROK tech companies are also continuously establishing companies, research institutes, and factories in China. Therefore, the ROK really needs cooperation with China in supply chains and resources," said Kim Jong Moon, chief representative of the Korea Innovation Center in China. In a congratulatory letter to the opening of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges on Thursday, Xi stressed that exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations are a driving force for human progress and a foundation for peace and development.

He urged both sides to expand youth and cultural exchanges, deepen the sharing of governance experience, and jointly advance modernization.

Xi noted that the broader goal is to strengthen Global South solidarity in addressing global challenges and to build a community with a shared future for humanity.

From Europe to East Asia and Africa, China's message remains consistent: pursuing shared development through consultation, fostering cooperation grounded in mutual benefit, and promoting multilateral coordination to tackle global challenges together, some observers noted.

Xi emphasizes commitment to multilateralism, cooperation in latest diplomatic engagements

The death toll from a landfill collapse in the central Philippine city of Cebu has risen to eight by Monday morning as search and rescue operations continued for another 28 missing people.

The landfill collapse occurred on Thursday as dozens of sanitation workers were working at the site. The disaster has already caused injuries of 18 people.

Family members of the missing people said the rescue progress is slow, and the hope for the survival of their loved ones is fading.

"For me, maybe I’ve accepted the worst result already because the garbage is poisonous and yesterday, it was raining very hard the whole day. Maybe they’ve been poisoned. For us, alive or dead, I hope we can get their bodies out of the garbage rubble," said Maria Kareen Rubin, a family member of a victim.

Families have set up camps on high ground near the landfill, awaiting news of their relatives. Some people at the site said cries for help could still be heard hours after the landfill collapsed, but these voices gradually faded away.

Bienvenido Ranido, who lost his wife in the disaster, said he can't believe all that happened.

"After they gave my wife oxygen, my kids and I were expecting that she would be saved that night because she was still alive. But the night came and till the next morning, they didn't manage to save her," he said.

Death toll in central Philippine landfill collapse rises to eight