Representatives and Colleagues, 

80 years ago, as a major outcome of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, the United Nations was founded, underpinning the modern international order and ushering in a new chapter of world peace and development. Since then, multilateralism has become the broad consensus, peace and development have become people's shared aspiration, and win-win cooperation has become a universal pursuit. 

Today, after 80 years, the world has entered a new phase of turbulence and transformation. Unilateralism is on the rise, and bullying practices run rampant, seriously impacting the UN-entered international system, blatantly challenging the international order underpinned by international law, eroding the foundation for sustainable development, and threatening world peace and stability. 

Recently, in particular, the US has imposed tariffs under various pretexts on all its trading partners. This severely infringes upon the legitimate rights and interests of all countries, severely violates the WTO rules, severely undermines the rules-based multilateral trading system, and severely disrupts the global economic order. Under the disguise of “reciprocity” and “fairness”, the US is playing a zero-sum game, which is essentially about subverting the existing international economic and trade order by means of tariffs, putting the US interests above the common good of the international community, and advancing hegemonic interests of the US at the cost of the legitimate interests of all countries.

The world, once again, finds itself at a crucial crossroads. Should we firmly advocate multilateralism, or should we allow unilateralism to spread unchecked? Should we promote democracy in international relations, or should we condone power politics? Should we abide by international law and the basic norms governing international relations, or should we return to the law of the jungle, where the strong prey on the weak? On these major issues concerning the fundamental interests of all countries and the future of humanity, the international community must make the right choice, make its unified voice heard, and take joint actions. 

The world needs openness and inclusiveness, not closure and isolation. Economic globalization is the only way to human progress and an irresistible trend of the times. Erecting high walls of tariffs is turning back the wheel of history. The world will never and should never return to a state of mutual isolation and fragmentation. All countries should jointly uphold the WTO-centered, rules-based multilateral trading system, build an open world economy, and make economic globalization more open, inclusive, beneficial to all, and balanced. 

The world needs sovereign equality, not the strong bullying the weak. Countries, regardless of their size and strength, are all equal members of the international community, and are all entitled to participate in international affairs on an equal footing. We need to advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world where international affairs are addressed through consultations among all and no one is superior. We cannot allow things to be dictated by whoever has a bigger fist. No country has the right to put itself above international law. Bullying the weak, threats and coercion, and imposing one’s will on others will not win popular support, and will ultimately backfire. 

The world needs fairness and justice, not putting one's own country first. Development is the universal right of all countries, not the exclusive privilege of a few. The fruits of development should increasingly and more equitably benefit every country and every individual. The rich countries getting richer, while the poor countries remaining poor, is not acceptable. For the Global South, and in particular, the least developed countries, the imposition of high tariffs is no different from depriving them of the right to development, creating deeper-seated development gaps, severely hindering the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and impacting international and regional peace and stability. 

The world needs solidarity and cooperation, not division and confrontation. All countries form an interdependent and closely knit community with a shared future. In the face of global challenges, no country can prevail on its own or stay immune. We must not create gaps of division. Instead, we should build bridges for communication. We must not set up iron curtains of confrontation. Instead, we should smooth the way for cooperation. We need to replace conflict with dialogue, replace coercion with consultation, and replace zero-sum with win-win.

Representatives and Colleagues, 

China is a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order. Faced with the incessant chaos in the international landscape, China's choice has been clear and firm. We always stand on the side of multilateralism, on the side of fairness and justice, and on the side of the common interests of the international community. 

As the world's second largest economy, China is further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization, and will actively promote high-quality development and open up wider at a high standard. We offer all LDCs with diplomatic ties with China zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines, making us the first major developing country and major economy to have implemented such a measure. China's super-sized market always remains open to the world, and all countries are welcome to get on board the express train of China's development. 

As a permanent member of the Security Council, China practices true multilateralism, firmly opposes hegemony and power politics, and always upholds justice and stands up for what is right. In the face of the US abuse of tariffs, a move against the trend of the times, China rose to the occasion and took decisive countermeasures, not only to safeguard its own legitimate rights and interests, but also to uphold the common interests of the international community, including small- and medium-sized countries, and to uphold international fairness and justice. 

As a great country nurtured by 5000 years of Chinese civilization, China maintains a strong strategic focus and great resilience, which provides stability and certainty to a world in turbulence. The Chinese people have the glorious tradition of self-reliance and standing up to power, and value sincerity and good faith. We do not provoke trouble, nor are we intimidated by it. If the US truly wants to resolve the issue through dialogue and consultation, it should adopt an attitude of equality, respect, and mutual benefits. Any form of maximum pressure, threat, or blackmail is not the right way to engage with China, and will not stop the firm strides of the Chinese nation to achieve its great rejuvenation.

Representatives and Colleagues, 

Let us join hands, follow the historical trend of peace and development, break the counter-current of unilateralism and bullying practices, safeguard the UN-centered international system, champion the international order underpinned by international law, and jointly create a better future for the world. 

Thank you.