‘Safeguard the postwar order,’ China tells UN General Assembly
China Calls for Stronger Multilateralism at UN General Assembly
Qinilo.com – China’s Vice President Han Zheng used his address to the United Nations General Assembly to argue that the international framework created after the Second World War must be protected at a time of conflict, economic inequality and accelerating global pressures.
Speaking during the General Debate of the Assembly’s 81st session on Saturday, Mr. Han said peace, cooperation and respect for international law were increasingly important as countries confronted geopolitical tensions and uneven development.
“The world wants peace not war,” Mr. Han told delegates.
He urged governments to preserve an international system built around the United Nations and a legal order established in the aftermath of World War Two. In his view, disagreements between States should be addressed through political engagement instead of military measures taken without Security Council approval.
Mr. Han said powerful nations carry a particular obligation to help preserve stability. They should, he argued, demonstrate respect for agreed rules, follow the law and act responsibly in matters affecting international security.
Middle East, Ukraine and Cuba
Addressing conflicts and regional crises, Mr. Han called for respect for the sovereignty of States in the Middle East, including countries in the Gulf. He also said Gaza’s reconstruction should follow the principle that Palestinians govern Palestine, while efforts continue toward a two-State solution.
His remarks placed the future of Gaza within a broader call for political solutions and regional stability. The two-State formula remains the internationally supported framework for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, though its implementation has faced persistent obstacles.
On the war in Ukraine, Mr. Han referred to four points proposed by President Xi Jinping. He described them as the basis for China’s continuing effort, pursued in its own way, to contribute constructively to a negotiated settlement.
He also appealed for the blockade and sanctions imposed on Cuba to end without delay, linking the issue to China’s wider criticism of unilateral coercive measures.
Development, Trade and Artificial Intelligence
Mr. Han said international cooperation on development should rest on unity, equality and inclusion. He identified poverty alleviation, reliable food supplies and the transition to cleaner energy as areas requiring urgent shared attention.
Developed economies, he said, should fulfil their existing commitments on development finance and climate funding. Such commitments are central to debates over how lower-income countries can invest in resilience, energy systems and social development while dealing with debt and economic pressures.
Technology was another major theme of the address. Mr. Han called for artificial intelligence to be developed with people at its centre, emphasizing the need to narrow digital gaps and ensure that technological gains are broadly shared rather than concentrated among a small number of countries or companies.
“[The world] should take a people centered approach and develop AI for the positive and for good, narrow the digital divide and promote development that is universally beneficial.”
He warned against protectionist economic policies, saying they do not create winners. China wants the global trading system to remain anchored in the World Trade Organization, whose rules-based approach has long been presented as a safeguard against arbitrary trade barriers.
Cultural dialogue also featured in his message. Mr. Han said the richness of the world comes from its diversity and rejected attitudes of superiority or self-interest in relations among civilizations.
UN Reform and Representation
Reaffirming China’s backing for the United Nations, Mr. Han described multilateralism as a hard-won choice shaped by humanity’s experience of war and crisis. He said fairness and justice are shared aspirations among peoples worldwide.
“Multilateralism is a choice made by humanity after going through scourges, and fairness and justice are the joint pursuit of the people of all countries.”
China supports reform of the UN, he said, but believes changes should reinforce the institution rather than simply reduce its agencies, responsibilities or mandates. He also called for a stronger voice for the Global South in international decision-making, reflecting a longstanding demand from developing countries for greater representation in global governance.
Mr. Han praised Secretary-General António Guterres, whose term ends in late 2026. China hopes the next Secretary-General will respect the UN Charter, possess strong capabilities, uphold integrity and fairness, and show courage and commitment.
China’s Role and a Historic UN Milestone
The Vice President also marked 55 years since General Assembly resolution 2758, adopted on 25 October 1971. The resolution recognized the Government of the People’s Republic of China as China’s sole legitimate representative at the United Nations.
Since taking that seat, Mr. Han said, China has acted as a force for stability during periods of volatility. He said the country has the strongest peace and security record among major powers and has provided the largest contribution to UN peacekeeping among the five permanent members of the Security Council.
He highlighted China’s economic and development role as well, saying it has accounted for about 30 per cent of global growth in recent years. More than $23 billion has been mobilized through the Global Development Initiative, he said, while zero-tariff access has been extended to all African countries and least developed countries that maintain ties with China.
The address presented China’s vision of an international order in which the UN remains central, economic development is treated as a shared responsibility and major powers accept greater obligations to preserve peace.
“China will join hands with all other countries to build a community with a shared future for humanity and make the world a better place for all of us,” Mr. Han said.
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