Premier of the State Council Li Qiang will attend the general debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York from September 22 to 26. While in New York, Premier Li will also attend events held by China, including the high-level meeting on the Global Development Initiative, and meet with UN Secretary-General and leaders of relevant countries.

Xinhua News Agency: To follow up on your announcement that Premier Li Qiang will attend the general debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, can you share China’s expectation for the trip?

Lin Jian: This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations. The world is witnessing rapid change at an unprecedented pace with a widening deficit in global governance. The international community hopes to see the authority and role of the UN maintained and strengthened. The UNGA general debate provides an important opportunity for gathering together the global community to form political consensus, enhance solidarity and tackle challenges.

China firmly supports the UN in playing a central role in global affairs. Earlier this month, President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Governance Initiative, presenting China’s solution for strengthening and improving global governance. Premier Li Qiang, in the upcoming multilateral and bilateral events, will elaborate on how China views the current international landscape, major global issues and the work of the UN, and share in detail China’s domestic and foreign policies as well as the Global Governance Initiative and other important visions and proposals. Through this trip, China hopes to join all parties in renewing the founding mission of the UN to reaffirm the commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, revitalize the UN’s authority and vitality in the new era and enable the organization to play an even bigger role in safeguarding world peace, promoting development and building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Anadolu Agency: U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration wants to take back Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, “not because of Afghanistan but because of China, because it’s exactly one hour away from where China makes its nuclear missiles.” What is China’s comment? Do you think this U.S. approach of seeing Afghanistan as a military outpost against China makes this country once more the scene of the great power rivalry, “the grand chessboard” as they used to call? 

Lin Jian: China respects Afghanistan’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Afghanistan’s future should rest in the hands of the Afghan people. Let me stress that stirring up tension and confrontation in the region will not be supported. We hope all parties will play a constructive role for regional peace and stability.

Sputnik: According to Politico, a cargo ship will depart from Ningbo port on September 20 to test a new shipping route via the Northern Sea Route. What role can the Northern Sea Route play for China? How will China and Russia cooperate in this area?

Lin Jian: As an important stakeholder in Arctic affairs, China always follows the basic principles of respect, cooperation, mutual benefit and sustainability in engaging in Arctic affairs and enhancing cooperation with various parties, and is committed to promoting peace, stability and sustainable development of the Arctic. 

In recent years, the Arctic shipping routes have increasingly come under the spotlight in the international community and have the potential to become the important routes in international trade. China stands ready to work with Russia and other Arctic states as well as interested countries to strengthen international cooperation on the building and operation of basic infrastructure in the Arctic shipping routes and jointly advance the development and exploration of the routes and protect the environment there.

China News Service: The 2025 Conference of Global Public Security Cooperation Forum (Lianyungang) and the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum were held on September 17 and 18. Senior official from the Foreign Ministry attended both events. Can you share more details?

Lin Jian: The 2025 Conference of Global Public Security Cooperation Forum (Lianyungang) was held in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province on September 17. On the morning of September 18, the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum held the Opening Ceremony and the First Plenary Session. Both forums provide important platforms for advancing cooperation on implementing the Global Security Initiative and cooperation on global governance.

At the forums, the Chinese side shared the main content and distinctive features of the Global Governance Initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping, and the outcomes of China’s effort to implement the Global Security Initiative over the past three years. China called on the international community to build a global public security community, jointly reform and improve global security governance, and build a more just, equitable, inclusive, united, practical, effective, coordinated and orderly global security governance system. Participating guests spoke highly of the value and relevance of the Global Governance Initiative and the implementation outcomes of the Global Security Initiative.

China will continue working with the rest of the international community to jointly act on the four global initiatives, reform and improve global governance, and build a community with a shared future for humanity.

Anadolu Agency: Chinese leader will speak to U.S. counterpart. What are the expectations from this high-level talk? What kind of results do you expect?

Lin Jian: I have nothing to read out.