Chinese President Xi Jinping met with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in Shanghai on July 17, on the sidelines of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance.
Guterres was visiting China to attend the conference and participate in discussions on the global governance of artificial intelligence.
During the meeting, Xi praised Guterres for his leadership over the past decade, saying that under his stewardship, the United Nations has firmly upheld multilateralism, actively addressed climate change, promoted global governance in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, and advanced the process of UN reform.
“China appreciates Secretary-General Guterres’ efforts and contributions,” Xi said.
Noting that this year marks the 55th anniversary of the restoration of the lawful seat of the People’s Republic of China at the United Nations, Xi said that over the past 55 years, China has consistently worked as a supporter and defender of world peace, development and the international order.
“China has always firmly supported the United Nations,” Xi said, adding that his proposal of building a community with a shared future for humanity and the four global initiatives is aimed, among other goals, at safeguarding the authority and role of the UN.
Xi said China will continue to strengthen cooperation with the United Nations, promote global peace and development, and contribute to building a community with a shared future for humanity.
Emphasizing that the current international landscape is marked by instability and rapid changes, Xi called on the international community to uphold genuine multilateralism and restore the central role of the United Nations in global affairs.
He outlined three key principles for strengthening multilateral cooperation:
First, countries should uphold fairness and justice, adhere to the spirit of the UN Charter, and advance UN reform in a constructive manner.
Second, the international community should remain committed to responsibility and cooperation, recognizing that all nations share a common future and must jointly address global challenges.
Xi added that China has consistently explored, through practical actions, a path for peaceful coexistence among major countries in the new era, contributing greater stability to the world.
Source: Akash-Alim-Shishir, China Media Group (CMG).