At UN debate, China stresses need for mutually beneficial cooperation

Chinese President Hu Jintao called for greater multilateralism and cooperation in international relations in his speech today before world leaders gathered for the annual high-level debate at the General Assembly.

“As the world moves further towards multi-polarity and economic globalization, multilateralism and democracy in international relations have won greater popular support, while opening up and cooperation for mutual benefit and win-win progress have become the shared aspirations of the international community,” Mr. Hu said.

“We are called upon by our times to unite as one and work together for mutual benefit and win-win progress, like passengers in the same boat.”

Mr. Hu called for the safeguarding of world peace and stability through joint and comprehensive action, based on mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination.

“We should adhere to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and seek peaceful solutions to regional hotspot issues and international disputes,” he said. “There should be no wilful use or threat of force.”

Mr. Hu called for a more holistic approach to development and the promotion of common prosperity, which he said China believed was an important way to redress global development imbalances. He called on international financial institutions to use their increased resources to help developing countries move out of poverty and provide more flexible and convenient loans.

“Great effort should be made to increase the representation and voice of developing countries in reforming the international financial system,” he added. Mr. Hu called for opposition to protectionism, an early and balanced conclusion to the Doha Round of trade talks, and the opening of markets by developed countries to developing countries.

Noting that climate change, food security, energy, resource security and public health were all global challenges from which no country was immune, Mr. Hu called for common progress based on harmony and close cooperation. He described climate change as “one of the serious challenges to human survival and development” and called for the success of the Copenhagen conference.

The Chinese president urged greater tolerance in international relations. “Mutual learning and tolerance… is an inexhaustible source of strength for social progress,” Mr. Hu said, adding that “all countries, big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, are equal.”

He said countries should respect the right of others to choose their development path and should “let different civilizations and models of development draw on each other’s strength through competition and comparison.”

Mr. Hu said China would continue to increase its support for other developing countries by, among other measures, intensifying trade and investment cooperation, reducing or cancelling debts for heavily-indebted poor countries, increasing assistance to Africa and implementing measures to help other developing countries achieve the targets specified in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).