China to deepen, solidify Global Governance Initiative: Chinese FM

China will further advance the Global Governance Initiative to greater depth and substance, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, elaborated on four main focuses on how to promote the Global Governance Initiative with concrete progress at a press conference in Beijing.

The press briefing was held by China's State Council Information Office to present a white paper titled "More Just and Equitable Global Governance: China's Principles, Proposals and Actions."

Wang emphasized that the Global Governance Initiative pursues the common well-being of the international community and relies on the collective efforts of all nations, adding that advancing the Global Governance Initiative to greater depth and substance requires major countries to shoulder their responsibilities, multilateral mechanisms to play their roles, and the international community to working together.

He then elaborated on four main focuses to achieve that goal.

The first is to revitalize open regionalism.

"This year, China will host the APEC Economic Leaders' Informal Meeting. We will revisit the original aspiration of Asia-Pacific cooperation, work to deliver more outcomes in trade, connectivity, innovation, and development, and promote the building of an Asia-Pacific community, injecting new momentum into peace and development in the Asia-Pacific and the wider world," Wang noted.

The second is to strengthen regulation in emerging sectors.

"Facing emerging challenges in new domains, how can we ensure that technology serves humanity and promotes the positive and inclusive development of AI? How can we advance sustainable development and achieve a global green and low-carbon transition? How can safeguard the stability and smooth functioning of industrial and supply chains as well as international corridors? China will work together with the international community to seek consensus and innovate governance mechanisms," said Wang.

The third is to enhance the building of governance platforms.

China has applied to host the Secretariat of the Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction in Xiamen to make greater contributions to global ocean governance.

The fourth is to build consensus on global governance.

China will host the inaugural "Xiong'an Global Governance Forum" this autumn, inviting people from various sectors worldwide to jointly discuss major plans for reforming and improving global governance.

China to deepen, solidify Global Governance Initiative: Chinese FM

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday that despite having a different view, he granted the permission for signing a peace memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Tehran and Washington.

He made the remarks in a message addressed to Iran's people, which was carried by Iranian media, hours after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, signed the MoU on ending the war.

Khamenei said the officials in charge made extensive efforts out of "sincere concern and goodwill" in the course of reaching this stage, adding, "Of course, it was the American president who, out of desperation, used all kinds of leverages to bring this about."

He stressed, "I, as a matter of principle, hold a different view; However, out of the commitment that the esteemed president -- as the head of the Supreme National Security Council -- gave to me on his own behalf and on behalf of the other members regarding the safeguarding of the rights of the lranian nation and the Resistance Front, and his explicit acceptance of that responsibility, I granted my permission."

Khamenei added that Pezeshkian and other SNSC members had also stated that if the United States seeks to make "excessive demands," they will not submit to them.

He emphasized that from this moment on, he and the "proud" Iranian nation will wait for the realization of the conditions set by Iran under the MoU, noting, however, that "the in-person negotiations that will take place in the future will not mean acceptance of the enemy's position."

Iran, the United States and Pakistan early Monday announced the finalization of the MoU to end the war on all fronts, including Lebanon. The Iranian and U.S. presidents signed the MoU electronically early Thursday.

On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the region.

Iran's supreme leader says granted permission for MoU with U.S. despite having different view