Working as Cooperation Partners for True Multilateralism

Working as Cooperation Partners for True Multilateralism

Remarks by H.E. Wang Yi
State Councilor and Foreign Minister of
The People's Republic of China
At Session 1 — Strengthening Multilateralism of
The G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Bali, 8 July 2022

Your Excellency Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi,
Colleagues,

It is such a pleasure to attend this G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting. I thank Foreign Minister Marsudi and the Indonesian government for the thoughtful arrangements made for the Chinese delegation.

As we meet, the world is struggling against the protracted pandemic, an unstable security landscape, and downward pressure on the economy. World peace and development is confronted with major challenges. The international community is looking to the G20 to build global consensus and promote international cooperation, and give confidence and hope to a world of uncertainties.

The G20 originated from the international cooperation in response to the global financial crisis. The declaration of the first summit clearly states that "we are confident that through continued partnership, cooperation, and multilateralism, we will overcome the challenges before us." Given the current circumstances, it is imperative that we revisit this original purpose and work as cooperation partners for true multilateralism.

— We should be partners of mutual respect and equal consultation. International affairs should be handled by all countries through consultation, and international rules jointly formulated and observed by all countries. In the world, there is only one international system, i.e., the international system with the United Nations at its core. There is only one international order, i.e., the international order underpinned by international law. Imposing the rules made by a certain country or group on others is the antithesis of multilateralism.

— We should be partners of peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. One can only ensure its own security when it takes others' security seriously and upholds the security of all. Attempts by a certain country to put its own security above that of others, strengthen military blocs, create an ideological iron curtain, or even threaten to shape others' surrounding environment by one's own standards will only cause conflict and confrontation and split the international community. They would only make one even less safe.

— We should be partners of openness, inclusiveness and connectivity. While it is alright for countries to have fair competition with each other, they should not engage in vicious competition or even malicious confrontation. Beggar-thy-neighbor economic policies, building a small yard with high fences, and forming closed and exclusionary small circles all run counter to the trend of the times. Those who attempt to isolate others will end up isolating themselves.

Colleagues,

As an Indonesian proverb says, "Heavy we shoulder together, light we carry together". China hopes to work with all other G20 members to overcome differences with solidarity, replace confrontation with cooperation, and translate the spirit of multilateralism into concrete actions for safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.

— We hope to work with all sides to facilitate talks, and we always stand firmly on the side of peace. Russia and Ukraine are both friends of China. We hope the two sides will realize peace through dialogue and consultation.

The pressing priority is to achieve an earlier ceasefire, ease the humanitarian crisis and prevent the conflict from dragging on and expanding. China has provided Ukraine with two batches of humanitarian assistance worth of 15 million yuan. And we soon will provide another 20 million yuan of emergency humanitarian supplies.

NATO and the EU should conduct serious and comprehensive dialogue with Russia and work together for a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture for Europe. Limitless unilateral sanctions are unsustainable, and attempts to heighten tensions and stoke confrontation are not helpful for peace talks.

— We hope to work with all parties on macro economic policy coordination to promote inclusive recovery and growth of the world economy, and realize the vision of "Recover Together, Recover Stronger" set by this year's G20 President.

To this end, we should act to keep the global industrial and supply chains stable and ease the global inflationary pressures.

We should act on the consensus of WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference, strengthen the multilateral trading system, and foster an open, transparent and non-discriminatory international trading environment.

More importantly, economies who are issuers of major reserve currencies should take their due responsibilities to prevent negative spillovers of their monetary policy adjustments.

We should also keep development a priority of G20 cooperation, and step up collaboration in such areas as poverty reduction, COVID-19, infrastructure, and green development.

China recently hosted the BRICS Summit and the High-level Dialogue on Global Development, which produced broad consensus on supporting multilateralism and implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Committed to the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, we will actively follow upon the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and Global Security Initiative (GSI) put forth by President Xi Jinping, strongly support Indonesia's G20 Presidency, and work with all parties for a world of peace, development and win-win cooperation.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of Qiushi Journal.