New envoy reaffirms Beijing's support to UN

China's new permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday.

"China has consistently been a staunch supporter and active contributor to the United Nations' cause," Fu told Guterres.

"China maintains that as the international situation grows more severe, there is a greater need to adhere to true multilateralism, uphold the authority of the United Nations, and support its central role in international affairs and global governance," he said. "China pledges support for the United Nations' endeavors and the secretary-general, expressing willingness to enhance collaboration with UN agencies, advance multilateralism and global multipolarity, and steer global governance toward fairness and reason."

Fu said the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind and the global development, global security and global civilization initiatives proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping are "highly consistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter".

He said he will take these important concepts and initiatives "as a guide", and "deeply participate in the work of the United Nations in various fields, and promote countries to strengthen unity and cooperation on the United Nations platform to respond to common challenges and build a common future".

Guterres also welcomed the new Chinese ambassador on Tuesday.

The UN cherishes the relationship with China, Guterres told Fu. China is the "fundamental pillar of multilateralism" and China has a "crucial partnership" with many activities at the UN, Guterres said.

"I'm absolutely sure that with your presence, we will go even further in deepening and improving and strengthening our cooperation," he said.

China has played an important role within the UN across various areas, including peace and security, poverty reduction and development, peacekeeping, climate change, international financial system reform and UN financing.

Before Fu took on the UN role, he was the head of the Chinese Mission to the European Union.

In March, China's former ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun bid farewell to senior UN officials such as Guterres and Dennis Francis, president of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly.