Incoming U.N. chief places high hopes on China's greater role

The United Nations' incoming secretary general on Monday placed high hopes on China's greater role in making the world a more peaceful place, calling it a "solid pillar" of multilateralism.

"Cooperation between China and the U.N. is absolutely essential," Antonio Guterres, a former Portuguese prime minister, who will begin his five-year term as the new U.N. chief on Jan. 1, said in Beijing. "China can play a very important role in the diplomacy for peace that the world badly needs."
He met separately with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.
Xi was quoted by China's official broadcaster CCTV as telling Guterres that the country will be "a staunch practitioner of multilateralism" and will have closer cooperation with the United Nations.
Xi's remarks came as many countries are concerned about U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's worldview following his repeated expressions of disdain for the postwar multilateral system.
Speaking to the press following a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Guterres praised China for being one of the largest financial supporters of the United Nations and its activities.
He also spoke highly of recent China-led programs, such as the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the "One Belt and One Road" initiative aimed at promoting regional connectivity, as fruitful contributions to the world's sustainable development.
The former Portuguese colony of Macao was returned to China in 1999 at the time of Guterres' premiership.
China has viewed him positively, according to U.N. officials, and it is largely believed to have backed his election as the U.N. head from the beginning.
It remains to be seen, however, how vocal Gutteres, who also served for a decade as U.N. high commissioner for refugees, will be in condemning human rights violations.
He said Monday that he attaches top priority to making sure that universal principles, including human, political and social rights, are respected.
Wang said China believes "the purposes and the principles of the U.N. Charter serve as the basic norms governing contemporary international relations."
The foreign minister said he and Guterres agreed to leverage the influence of the United Nations, underscoring that no country in the world can succeed in overcoming today's numerous global challenges "alone."