Fu Cong photo: VCG

A Chinese envoy on Friday called for efforts to lift all unilateral coercive measures (UCMs) undermine the foundation of multilateralism and international rule of law in a joint statement on behalf of a cross-regional group of 28 member states at the United Nations, according to a readout posted on the website of the Permanent Mission of China to the UN.

Today's world is plagued with rampant unilateralism and raging unilateral coercive measures. History has proven that UCMs are one of the culprits for international turbulence and disarray in world order. As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary, the international community must remain clear-headed, strengthen unity and cooperation, and firmly curb and stop such unlawful practices, said Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

Developing countries and their populations continue to fall victim to unilateral coercive measures, which violate the principle of sovereign equality and cooperation, intervene in other countries' internal affairs, disregard the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and undermine the foundation of multilateralism and international rule of law, Fu said, delivering a joint statement on behalf of a cross-regional group of 28 member states at the United Nations.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development underscores the equal enjoyment by all states of the development dividends, and strongly urges states to refrain from promulgating and applying any unilateral economic, financial or trade measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, said the Chinese envoy.

"We reaffirm our opposition to unilateral coercive measures and call on a few Western countries to heed the just calls of the international community, honor their commitments to upholding the UN Charter and international law, and immediately, unconditionally, and completely lift all UCMs. We also call upon Member States, the UN system, and other international organizations to jointly oppose such unlawful practices and help targeted countries mitigate their plight," Fu said.

The current circumstance calls for solidarity and unity rather than confrontation and division to address global challenges and promote and protect human rights for all, the Chinese envoy noted.

Global Times