President of the United Nations General Assembly and Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has stated that China plays a crucial role in multilateralism and strengthening the United Nations.
In an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency, Abdulla Shahid congratulated the People’s Republic of China on its contributions to the world since its seat in the UN was restored over 50 years ago.
He stated that “China has played a very, very important role in multilateralism and strengthening the United Nations,”. He also added that “multilateralism is the only way forward. Unilateralism has no place in the world”.
Both climate change and COVID-19 have shown us that we, as a species, as humanity, we can survive only through multilateralism. So, we need the institution of the United Nations strengthened. We need law and order strengthened. We need other frameworks supporting multilateralism strengthened,” he said.
“That is why China, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, as a responsible member of the international community, has a very important role to play,” stated Abdulla Shahid.
China is the second largest donor to the UN and including 29 peacekeeping assessments and has over 50,000 personnel active in peacekeeping missions.
He also noted that he was very impressed by Chinese President Xi Jinping’s remarks at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly. Abdulla Shahid also thanked China and President Xi Jinping for the pledge to donate an additional $100 million to COVAX program and to donate another 100 million doses of vaccine. China is set to donate 2 billion doses by the end of 2021.
Abdulla Shahid also remarked on the climate change concept proposed by President Xi Jinping. He noted on the brilliance of building a community for a shared future for humankind.