-Says days long gone when small groups decided World’s fate
-Stresses on equality of nations
LONDON: China hit back at the group of World’s Seven self-claimed richest democracies a day after G7 leaders adopted a rival plan to oppose Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative by helping build infrastructure in poorer nations.
China has pointedly cautioned Group of Seven leaders that the days when “small” groups of countries decided the fate of the world was long gone, hitting back at the world’s richest democracies which have sought a unified position over Beijing.
“The days when global decisions were dictated by a small group of countries are long gone,” a spokesman for the Chinese embassy in London said. “We always believe that countries, big or small, strong or weak, poor or rich, are equals, and that world affairs should be handled through consultation by all countries.”
The Chinese embassy called on certain countries to abide by the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and uphold the central role of the UN.There is only one system and one order in the world, and that is the international system with the UN as the core and the international order based on international law, not the so-called system and order advocated by a few countries, an embassy spokesperson said in response to reports that the U.S. wants to use the G7 summit as an opportunity to seek an alliance with other Western countries and maintain the “rules-based international system.”
There is only one set of rules, and that is the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, not the so-called rules formulated by a few countries, said the spokesperson.
There is only one kind of multilateralism, which is based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, treating each other as equals, cooperating and winning together, not the pseudo-multilateralism based on the interests of “small circles” and group politics, the spokesperson added.
The embassy called on countries concerned to do something concrete to overcome the pandemic, address climate change and promote global economic recovery at an early date. The re-emergence of China as a leading global power is considered to be one of the most significant geopolitical events of recent times, alongside the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union that ended the Cold War.
The G7, whose leaders are meeting in southwestern England, has been searching for a coherent response to the growing assertiveness of President Xi Jinping after China’s spectacular economic and military rise over the past 40 years.
‘Outdated imperial mindset’
Leaders of the group, the United States, Canada, Britain, Germany, Italy, France and Japan, want to use their gathering in the English seaside resort of Carbis Bay to show the world that the richest democracies can offer an alternative to China’s growing clout.
–The Daily Mail-Global Times news exchange item
