China rejects selective use of multilateralism, urges UN to oppose unilateralism

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – China Thursday rejected the selective use of multilateralism, urging the UN to oppose unilateralism.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi Wang made the comments during a meeting with UN General Assembly President Philemon Yang in Beijing, according to an official statement by Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Yang, 77, arrived in the Chinese capital for a five-day trip where he will meet the country’s leadership and also visit central Hubei province.

The Chinese foreign minister emphasized the importance of “adhering to a correct view of the international order, being constructive for multilateralism, and clearly opposing unilateralism and hegemonic bullying.”

His comments came at a time when the UN has witnessed mass support to end the war in Palestinian besieged enclave of Gaza but the US and its allies have opposed it.

A day earlier, the General Assembly overwhelmingly voted to lift US sanctions on Cuba but only Washington and Israel opposed it.

Wang rejected the practice of “using multilateralism selectively, or supporting it when convenient and abandoning it otherwise.”

Addressing Yang, president of the 79th session of the General Assembly, Wang hoped that the UN will “uphold a correct view of history and serve as a just force for maintaining world peace, playing a leading role in addressing pressing issues by replacing conflict with dialogue, coercion with consultation, and zero-sum thinking with win-win solutions.”

Yang, who served as prime minister of Cameroon for a decade since 2009, was elected as president of the General Assembly early this year.​​​​​​​