Bangkok, April 20, 2026

Mr. Chair,
Madam Executive Secretary,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the Chinese government, I would like to extend congratulations on the convening of the 82nd session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), and thank the Thai government and the ESCAP secretariat for the thoughtful arrangements.

As we speak, global transformation unseen in a century is accelerating, with geopolitical conflicts and regional wars breaking out one after another. Unilateralism and protectionism run rampant, and power politics and highhanded bullying are on the rise. Factors of instability and uncertainty are growing and world peace and development face serious challenges. President Xi Jinping has put forward four global initiatives, pointing the way forward in a fluid and turbulent international landscape. ESCAP member states should enhance solidarity and cooperation, advance the development and prosperity of the Asia Pacific, and promote the building of an Asia Pacific community. To that end, I would like to propose the following:

First, we should defend multilateralism and keep to the right path of peace and development. Multilateralism is an effective way to safeguard peace and promote development. The more turbulent the world is, the more precious multilateralism becomes. We should stay committed to true multilateralism, resolutely uphold the U.N.-centered international system and the international order based on international law, and work together for a more just and equitable global governance system. As the U.N. advances the U.N.80 reform, regional economic commissions such as ESCAP should enhance their performance capacity and work effectiveness, to help regional countries achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs). China will continue to make use of channels such as the China-ESCAP Cooperation Fund to support ESCAP in playing a bigger role.

Second, we should advance openness and cooperation, and promote regional integrated development. Openness and cooperation are the code of success for the Asia Pacific in maintaining rapid growth. No matter how the international landscape evolves, we should stay committed to the right direction of openness and cooperation, and safeguard the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core. We should promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, keep industrial and supply chains stable and smooth, and advance regional economic integration. China would like to work with all sides to further enhance the level of regional connectivity, implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership with high quality, and steadily advance the building of the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific, in a bid to provide new impetus for the world economy.

Third, we should seize the opportunities of digital development and spearhead cooperation on innovation. Innovation is the source of dynamism for the continued prosperity of the Asia Pacific. A new wave of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is gaining momentum, bringing huge development opportunities to countries in the Asia Pacific. In areas such as AI, new materials and new energy, we should deepen R&D exchange and industrial cooperation, and strengthen information sharing and policy coordination within the ESCAP framework, to fully unleash the growth potential of our region. China is committed to innovation-driven, high-quality development, and is promoting international cooperation on innovation with concrete actions. In recent years, China has put forward the Global AI Governance Initiative and the AI+ International Cooperation Initiative, and established the World Data Organization. We are also preparing for the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, and welcome active participation from our Asia Pacific partners.

Fourth, we should advance the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and accelerate efforts toward the SDGs.

We have entered the final five-year sprint of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, but progress to date has fallen far short of expectations. We need to expedite the implementation of the Regional Road Map for Implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific, and make the Asia Pacific contribution to achieving the SDGs. The U.N. will start formulating the post-2030 agenda for global development in September 2027. Asia Pacific countries should strengthen policy dialogue to make sound political preparations at the regional level for formulating the new development agenda. The Global Development Initiative (GDI) is an international public good that facilitates global development and cooperation and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Over the past four-plus years since it was first proposed, the GDI has mobilized over US$23 billion of funds and launched more than 1,800 practical cooperation projects. China stands ready to work with our Asia Pacific partners to continue deepening practical cooperation under the GDI, and contribute to reinvigorating the global development cause.

Mr. Chair,

As a major developing country with 1.4 billion people, China is steadily improving its population development strategy and advancing modernization that features a huge population, so as to deliver a better life for all our people. In recent years, we have been steadily increasing input in education, medical care, health and other areas essential to people’s well-being, boosting the silver economy, and improving the system that delivers full life-cycle population services to all the Chinese people. All these efforts provide a strong underpinning for Chinese modernization. China is ready to step up experience sharing with Asia Pacific partners and work with them for the high-quality development of the population in this region.

Last month, China’s Two Sessions reviewed and adopted the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan, which offers a new blueprint for China’s development and new opportunities for the Asia Pacific and the world. As we begin implementing the 15th Five-Year Plan this year, China’s economy is making steady progress. In the first quarter, it grew by 5 percent, one of the fastest among major economies, demonstrating great resilience and vitality. China will continue to expand high-standard opening up, share dividends with all countries, especially those in the Asia Pacific region, and jointly make the pie of development bigger.

China will always be a member of the Asia Pacific family and will always support and participate in Asia Pacific cooperation. As the host of APEC 2026, China will convene the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting this November in Shenzhen. We will work with all parties to advance the building of an Asia Pacific community.

ESCAP will celebrate its 80th anniversary next year. Eighty years ago, the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East, the predecessor of ESCAP, was founded in Shanghai. Having traversed 80 years, Asia Pacific cooperation now stands at a new historical starting point. China would like to host the 83rd session of ESCAP in April 2027 in Shanghai. Taking it as an opportunity, we look forward to working with all member economies to renew our original mission, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, start afresh and make greater contributions to the building of an Asia Pacific community.

Thank you!