Chna's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ma Zhaoxu, delivers an address at UN headquiarters in New York on July 19, 2018. (Photo: Yin Miao)  

New York (People’s Daily) – “China opposes unilateralism and trade protectionism and advocates rational handling of differences and problems in trade relations,” said China’s UN Ambassador Ma Zhaoxu, on Thursday at the Ministerial Meeting of the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development at UN Headquarters in New York City.

Ma pointed out that unilateralism and protectionism have threatened global economic growth, causing widespread concern around the world. He also said that China is willing to work with all parties to safeguard free trade and a multilateral trading system while resolutely defending the common interests of all.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development outlines a new vision for global development and offers new opportunities for international development cooperation.

“Over the past three years since its adoption, steady progress has been made in its global implementation. Nonetheless, countries still face great challenges and an up-hill battle before achieving sustainable development goals,” said Ma.

While urging the international community to remain committed to equitable, open, comprehensive and innovative development, putting development high on the global agenda, with a focus on assisting developing nations to implement the 2030 Agenda.

“We must strive for equitable development to make development opportunities more equal, pursue open development that benefits all, strive for comprehensive development and solidify the basis of development and promote innovative development to unlock development potential,” said Ma.

After 40 years of reform and opening up, China's sustainable development has made many significant achievements. 

Since 2002, China’s average contribution to world economic growth has approached 30 percent, consumption and investment has led to the creation more employment opportunities. 

The “Belt and Road Initiative” has created a broad prospect for win-win cooperation between China and the world. 

“In the past five years, China’s trade with countries along the route has exceeded US$5 trillion, its accumulative investment over $70 billion, creating more than 200,000 jobs for local communities. In the next 15 years, China is expected to import $24 trillion worth of goods and absorb $2 trillion in foreign investments. Its outbound investment will reach $2 trillion,” he said. 

Ma reiterated that China will uphold the philosophy of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development, with focus on tackling uneven and inadequate development. We are willing to work with all parties to build an open world economy, maintain the multilateral trading system and rules, and steer globalization towards greater openness, inclusiveness, universal benefits, balance and win-win results. 

“Together we will build a community with a shared future for humankind,” Ma concluded.