Xi calls for solidarity, cooperation at 3rd Paris Peace Forum

President Xi Jinping called on Thursday on all countries to uphold international law and the basic norms governing international relations, determine their position based on the merits of each matter and rise above ideological bias and confrontation.

"We need to uphold multilateralism, oppose unilateralism, hegemony and power politics and reject all forms of terrorism and acts of extreme violence," Xi said in a speech delivered via video at the third Paris Peace Forum.

According to Xi, the global landscape is fast evolving as traditional and non-traditional security threats keep emerging amid growing instability and uncertainty in the international situation.

"Countries need to strengthen solidarity, not create estrangement; they need to advance cooperation, not provoke conflicts," he said.

The Paris Peace Forum was established in 2018 at the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron.

Noting that peace and development is the key issue of the current era as well as an unstoppable historical trend, Xi said that China will step up communication and coordination with France and other countries and play a positive part in the political settlement of international and regional issues and upholding world peace and stability.

As COVID-19 is still wreaking havoc globally, Xi underlined the importance of solidarity and mutual assistance in jointly fighting the pandemic.

"We need to put people and life first, place people's well-being front and center, respect science, and make a more targeted and concerted response," he said, highlighting the crucial leadership role of the World Health Organization in facilitating the joint global response against COVID-19.

Xi restated that China will honor its commitment to make Chinese vaccines a global public good. China will help the global community, and in particular developing countries, enhance preparedness for public health emergencies in an effort to build a global community of health for all, he said.

In an effort to facilitate economic recovery, Xi said China will work with the rest of the international community to maintain the stability of global industrial and supply chains and foster an open world economy.

"China will earnestly act on the G20 debt service suspension initiative for the poorest countries and take an active part in international development cooperation and help African and other developing countries tide over their current difficulties," he said.

The green economy, which represents the future of human progress, also holds the key to promoting recovery, Xi said.

China will draw up plans to achieve peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, he said.