Ban Ki-moon: Some countries not respecting the multilateral approach

2018-Dec-12       Source: Newsgd.com

2018 marks the 40th anniversary of China’s Reform and Opening-up. Over the past four decades, more than 700 million Chinese residents have thrown off the yoke of poverty, a feat respected by Ban Ki-mo

2018 marks the 40th anniversary of China's Reform and Opening-up. Over the past four decades, more than 700 million Chinese residents have thrown off the yoke of poverty, a feat respected by Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary General of the United Nations.

Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary General of the United Nations. (File photo)

"China has made tremendous and remarkable changes during the last 40 years," Ban said in an interview with Chinese media at the 2018 Imperial Springs International Forum. "China's Reform and Opening-up has not only helped the Chinese people, but a lot of people around the world."

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According to Ban, China's Reform and Opening-up lifting hundreds of millions of Chinese people out of poverty helped the U.N to achieve their Millennium Development Goals in 2010.

"If we look at the statistics (the Millennium Development Goals), a lot of it is down to China." Ban stated.

Ban Ki-moon in a panel discussion of the 2018 Imperial Springs International Forum. (Photo: Steven Yuen)

Ban Ki-moon in a panel discussion of the 2018 Imperial Springs International Forum. (Photo: Steven Yuen)

According to the statistics published by Chinese Bureau of Statistics, Chinese GDP is now 33 times what it was in 1978, amounting to 80 trillion yuan in 2017, an increase of 9.5% yearly. Furthermore, total grain output has stabilized at 6 billion kilograms in 2017, twice as much as that in 1978.

"Now that you are at the beginning of another 40 or 50 years of Chinese Reform and Opening-up," said Ban. "I am quite confident that China will help greatly in implementing Sustainable Development Goals."

Ban explained that the primary goal of Sustainable Development is to eradicate abject poverty worldwide by 2035.

"China is contributing a lot to these development goals," he added.

Since the theme of 2018 Imperial Springs International Forum is "Advancing Reform and Opening-up, Promoting Win-Win Cooperation", multilateralism was one of the buzz words during the forum’s six panel discussions.

One of the six panel discussion of the 2018 Imperial Springs International Forum. (Photo: Steven Yuen)

One of the six sub-forum of the 2018 Imperial Springs International Forum. (Photo: Steven Yuen)

In Ban's opinion, China is playing important role in maintaining international multilateralism.

"China's leaders have shown commitment to multilateralism," Ban said before adding. "One good example is that China has actively supported the 2015 Paris Agreement."

"That really accelerated the process of the Paris Agreement coming into effect before the end of 2016, and was a great step in terms of China's great contribution to international multilateralism."

2018 also marked the 5th anniversary of the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the past 5 years, more than 100 countries and international organization have signed agreements with China to co-operate on the implementation of the initiative.

With both the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, a community aimed at a Shared Future for Mankind is being formed around the world.

More than 200 former world leaders, representatives from business circles, experts and scholars attended the forum and shared their ideas on 'Advancing Reform and Opening-up, Promoting win-win cooperation'. (Photo: Steven Yuen)

More than 200 former world leaders, representatives from business circles, experts and scholars attended the forum and shared their ideas on "Advancing Reform and Opening-up, Promoting win-win cooperation". (Photo: Steven Yuen)

Ban said: "It is very important that the countries along the Belt and Road cooperate with each other, to build infrastructure and experience economic and social development benefits."

"This will help not only those countries, but also China." Ban added.

However, Ban expressed his worry about the unilateralism and protectionism which has been on the rise in recent years.

"Some countries are not respecting the multilateralism, which has long been the backbone of the international community," said Ban. "This is really worrisome."

Ban hopes that the dispute between China and the U.S. can be settled as soon as possible.

"It is important that the two largest economies and world leading countries work together toward solving global challenges, such as climate change, sustainable energy goals." Ban indicated.

"We have to work together," he went on to stress, "Global development needs global solutions."

 

Author: Steven Yuen, Zhu Xiaofeng, Wu Ke, Song Hainan (intern)

Editor: Wing Zhang, Simon Haywood


联合国前秘书长潘基文:中国与世界共享改革开放成果

问:今年是中国改革开放40周年,您如何看待中国的改革开放?

潘基文:中国的改革开放不仅惠及本国人民,也对世界的发展有很大的帮助,与世界共享了改革开放的成果。改革开放使中国数以亿计的人口摆脱了贫困。

世界银行曾指出,发展中国家在2010年提前实现了联合国千年发展目标中的减贫内容,即在1990年水平基础上将极端贫困率减半。如果详细审视数据,这一目标得以完成,中国功不可没。消除贫困也是联合国2030年可持续发展议程的首要目标。中国领导人表示将继续推进改革开放,我相信这将会极大促进联合国可持续发展目标的实现。

问:您提到联合国2030目标,您认为中国将在其中发挥怎样的作用?

潘基文:中国在过去40年里发生了巨大而显著的变化。我印象非常深刻的是,中国提出到2020年消除绝对贫困的奋斗目标。联合国2030年可持续发展议程也希望达到消除贫困的目标,而中国则致力于提前10年实现,对此我非常赞赏。

问:在维护多边主义体制和促进全球化方面,中国起到了哪些作用?

潘基文:近70年来,世界和平与稳定在多边主义体制下得到了加强。当前,有些国家不尊重多边主义这一现代国际社会秩序的基石,这是非常令人忧虑的。2016年9月3日,在二十国集团杭州峰会期间,中美两国元首先后向他交存气候变化《巴黎协定》批准文书,这一举措极大地推进了《巴黎协定》的落实进程,从这一点上可见中国对多边主义的巨大贡献。

2015年,习近平主席到访联合国总部时表达了对联合国发展议程的大力支持,并在中非合作论坛上宣布了中国对非洲的多项合作计划,中国领导人的这些做法都非常值得赞赏。

问:您如何评价中国提出的“一带一路”倡议?

潘基文:这一倡议意味着中国的发展成就是可以同其他国家共享的。通过合作,“一带一路”沿线国家的基础设施建设、经济和社会发展得以提升,这十分重要。中国和“一带一路”沿线国家都将从中获益,这是双赢的合作。全球问题需要全球性的解决办法,各国都身处其中,必须展开合作。这也正契合了中国领导人提出的共建人类命运共同体理念。21世纪是合作共赢的时代,世界必须携手同行。

习近平主席在博鳌亚洲论坛2018年年会上宣示了新时代深化改革、扩大开放的坚定决心与重大举措。习近平主席的主旨演讲给与会的世界各国政要和企业家留下深刻印象,让他们备受鼓舞,也得到了国际社会的广泛欢迎。

南方日报记者 朱晓枫 吴珂

南方英文网记者 袁子翔

实习生 宋海南

Editor: Steven

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