On April 21, 2025, Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu attended the general debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) held in Bangkok, Thailand, and made a statement.

Ma Zhaoxu expounded on China's position on the U.S. abuse of tariffs, saying that the recent imposition of "reciprocal tariffs" by the U.S. administration on countries across the world is a typical move of unilateralism, protectionism, and economic bullying. Countries in the Asia-Pacific region are victims. China has taken resolute countermeasures both to defend its legitimate rights and interests and more importantly, to safeguard international fairness, justice, and the international economic order. Faced with bullying and highhandedness, compromise and concession will lead nowhere, while cooperation and collaboration are the only way out. China is a staunch supporter and practitioner of multilateralism, and stays committed to building a community with a shared future for mankind. China will resolutely advance high-standard opening up, handle uncertainty with the certainty of its own development, and remain a growth engine for the world economy.

Ma Zhaoxu said that as the most influential regional economic and social development organization of the United Nations, ESCAP should firmly uphold multilateralism, further advance openness and cooperation, foster new drivers of innovation-driven development, and promote inclusive and sustainable development, to build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future. China is ready to synergize high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and the Global Development Initiative with the work of ESCAP, to provide more impetus for Asia-Pacific connectivity and sustainable development.

During the meeting, Ma Zhaoxu met respectively with Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa and Executive Secretary of ESCAP Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana.

ESCAP is one of the five intergovernmental regional economic commissions under the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It is the most important comprehensive economic and social development organization of the United Nations in the Asia-Pacific region.