On October 11, 2018, Head of the Chinese delegation to the First Committee of the 73rd Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly and Director-General of the Department of Arms Control of the Foreign Ministry Fu Cong called on the international community to join hands to safeguard multilateralism and jointly cope with challenges to international security at the UN General Assembly.
In his speech at the General Debate of the First Committee of the UN General Assembly for disarmament and international security affairs, Fu Cong expressed that today's world is undergoing major development as well as profound transformation and adjustments. The world wants peace, not war, and cooperation, not confrontation. This has become the common aspiration of the international community. At the same time, the Cold-War mentality and power politics have become even more outdated, and unilateralism and protectionism will get nowhere. The international community needs to work together to uphold the rules-based international order.
Fu Cong said that to build a community with a shared future for mankind and a world of lasting peace and universal security, the international community should make joint efforts to this end. First, we should uphold international order, firmly uphold the international order based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, pursue a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, bridge differences and resolve disputes through consultation and dialogue, and accommodate the legitimate security concerns of every country, so as to achieve common and universal security. Second, we should adhere to international rules and norms, uphold the authority and sanctity of the existing international rules and norms, and reject double standards, selective application of rules and placing domestic law above international law. Third, we should advance global governance, bear in mind the new security situation, bring creativity into full play, and enhance communication and consultation so as to make the global security governance system fairer, more equitable and effective.
Fu Cong stressed that China will stay true to the path of multilateralism, firmly uphold the existing disarmament machinery, and actively promote global security governance. No matter how the international situation may change, China will always stay committed to peace and development, and join hands with all countries to safeguard multilateralism and enhance international cooperation to make positive contributions to jointly building a world of lasting peace and universal security and to promoting the lofty cause of world peace.