UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations General Assembly has seen many presidential speeches in its long and storied history. But when China’s Deputy President Han Zheng stood to deliver his message during the 81 st session, he was focused on the present rather than the future – and, more specifically, on the perils of abandoning the status quo.
His address came as fighting erupts around the world, trade wars limit the growth of the world economy, and the gap between the Global South and the First World becomes more and more apparent. VP Han believes that the time has come for all nations to rally together to maintain the institutions that foster international security and mutual development.
Multilateralism as a Choice
China’s vice-president, in his speech to the UN General Assembly, made the case for multilateral engagement as an option on the table.
VP Han believes that the system which has emerged after WWII and the principles enshrined in the UN Charter should be defended at all costs. He described the concept of multilateralism as a choice made by visionaries who understood the importance of international law and institutions, human rights, and collective security. In his view, contemporary international relations require a return to the principles of multilateral engagement because the path of opposing blocs and unilateralism leads only to confrontation and destruction. The Cold War mentality needs to be abandoned by all nations genuinely interested in preserving stability and prosperity in international relations.
Deputy President Han pointed to China’s position on the international stage as proof of its devotion to the principles of multilateralism. Actions such as supporting the joint UN response to crises and information security issues in the Middle East and beyond fall under the principle of developing political and diplomatic approaches to resolving conflicts. VP Han especially emphasised that the use of military force without the consent of the UN Security Council is an outright violation of international law.
Trade as a Pillar of Growth
The UN deputy stressed that free and open trade is an essential pillar of the international economic system. “Protectionism produces no winners,” , he said, referring to the current state of global supply chains. In his opinion, the rules-based international trading system requires revision and should be based on mutual respect and recognition of the needs of all participants. The growing protectionism and the tendency of some states to launch trade wars for the sake of protecting domestic industries lead to the world economy slipping into recession. By appealing to the nations to maintain the rules-based system, VP Han expressed Beijing’s stance on the issue.
Development as the Basis for Peace
The most important message of China’s campaign for multilateralism this year is the call for development as the basis for peace. By the fifth anniversary of the Global Development Initiative, Han is calling for the international community to step up its efforts to tackle poverty, promote green development, and ensure that all countries benefit from the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including artificial intelligence.
The new era of international relations requires countries to find a mutually beneficial solution to the problem of technological development. While the use of AI technologies can benefit all countries, the division of the world into technological winners and losers will inevitably lead to conflicts. VP Han believes that the international community should treat this challenge as a common one and work together to find solutions.
In his speech, he stressed the importance of creating conditions for the development of the Global South countries and emerging economies. He sees a large population of young people as an asset for all nations, including China and India, that are poised to become the most populous in the world. He therefore calls for increased representation of these countries in the central institutions of the UN system, mutual cultural and civilizational recognition, and a global transition from a bipolar to a multipolar system.
Reform, Not Revolution
What’s new about China’s approach to international relations this time is that, while criticising the current system, it offers its reform rather than revolution. By calling for a return to the principles of multilateralism, VP Han creates the illusion that China is conservative in its foreign policy. But a closer examination of the text of the speech reveals that Mr. Han is calling for change within the system that would allow China to benefit from it more than before.
While China respects and recognizes the need for reform of the current international system, it operates within the framework of the UN charter and all its principles. This allows PRC to propose alternative solutions in key areas while still operating in the existing system. Thus, the choice for countries to choose between the Chinese approach and the liberal democratic principles of the West becomes increasingly binary.
The speech by VP Han will hardly change anything in the way nations interact or relate to each other in terms of economics and security. But what the UN General Assembly will remember about this meeting is that, despite all the problems, the world’s countries still have a common vision of the principles of international law, and peace, and security, and development. The main problem, as VP Han notes, is that nations act too often in an isolated manner, without taking into account the interests of others.
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