‘Revitalize UN authority’: China’s vice president to address General Assembly

China’s Vice President Han Zheng will address the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Beijing announced Tuesday, saying he will stress revitalizing the authority of the world body.

Han will be in New York on Sept. 24-26 to attend the general debate of the General Assembly, China’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The General Assembly will hear the address from the Chinese representative on Saturday.

During his visit, 72-year-old Han will also attend the high-level dialogue on the 5th anniversary of the Global Development Initiative hosted by China, and meet with the UN secretary-general, the president of the 81st UN General Assembly, and leaders of relevant countries, the statement added.

The General Assembly is set to begin the high-level debate on Tuesday, ahead of a summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who will fly to Washington on Wednesday for a three-day state visit.

The international situation is faced with “intertwined challenges and turbulence and confronted with mounting risks and challenges,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters in Beijing.

He said the UN “serves as the core platform for global governance, and the General Debate provides a vital opportunity for countries to build political consensus and coordinate multilateral actions.”

“This year marks the 55th anniversary of the restoration of China's lawful seat in the UN,” he noted.

China was granted its seat in the UN on Oct. 25, 1971, when the General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758.

Guo said that during the General Debate, Han will “present China's views and positions on the current international landscape, major international and regional issues, and the work of the UN.”

Han “will outline China's concrete actions to practice true multilateralism and promote world peace and development, and call on the world to revitalize the authority and role of the UN, build greater synergy for reforming and improving global governance, and work together in the right direction of building a community with a shared future for humanity,” Guo added.