TIANJIN, 30 August 2025 (TATOLI) – Chinese President Xi Jinping met with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday in the port city of Tianjin, ahead of the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit.
During the meeting, President Xi emphasized the importance of multilateralism, solidarity, and cooperation in addressing global challenges.
He underscored the significance of the United Nations, calling its founding the most consequential decision made by the international community after World War II. Xi noted that this year marks the 80th anniversary of both the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the establishment of the UN – events that, he said, demonstrate that solidarity and cooperation remain the right path for tackling global issues.
“We should rededicate ourselves to the founding mission of the UN, reaffirm our commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and enable the UN to respond to changing circumstances with enhanced authority and vitality, so that it remains the premier platform for coordinating actions among countries and addressing common challenges,” President Xi said.
He added that as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China consistently stands on the right side of history and practices genuine multilateralism.
“China will always be a trustworthy partner of the UN,” he affirmed.
Xi pledged to deepen cooperation with the UN, support its central role in global affairs, and work with the organization to uphold world peace, development, and prosperity.
He also stated that China remains a source of stability and certainty amid global shifts.
“We will continue to create new opportunities for the world through China’s development and work with other countries to build a better future –through the creation of a community with a shared future for humanity, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and high-quality Belt and Road cooperation,” he said.
Secretary-General Guterres thanked China for its consistent support of the UN. He noted that at a time when multilateralism, international law, and the authority of the United Nations are under pressure, the organization’s founding values must be upheld.
“China has made significant contributions to safeguarding international law and ensuring the rule of law globally. It has been a cornerstone of multilateralism,” Guterres said.
He expressed the UN’s desire to deepen cooperation with China to uphold the UN Charter, defend the basic norms of international relations, promote a multipolar world, enhance the representation of developing countries, and strengthen the UN’s role in global governance.
“The two sides need to enhance cooperation in areas such as reforming the global governance system, artificial intelligence, and climate response, to better serve the wellbeing of humanity,” he concluded.
The SCO Summit in Tianjin, scheduled for August 31 to September 1, 2025, will bring together more than 20 foreign leaders and the heads of 10 international organizations.
Founded on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, the SCO is a permanent regional body that promotes political, economic, and security cooperation. It evolved from the earlier “Shanghai Five” mechanism.
The SCO is not a military alliance but a regional platform guided by the “Shanghai Spirit,” which emphasizes mutual trust, benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse cultures, and shared development.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
