'Major countries should act like major countries,' president tells UN meeting

China has no intention of fighting a Cold War or a hot war with any country, nor will it seek hegemony, expansion or a sphere of influence, President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday.

In a speech delivered via video at the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Xi said that China will continue to narrow differences and resolve disputes with others through dialogue and negotiation.

"We do not seek to develop only ourselves or engage in a zero-sum game. We will not pursue development behind closed doors," Xi said.

The president pointed out that it is natural for countries to have differences, and it is important to address them through dialogue and consultation. Countries may engage in competition, but such competition should be positive and healthy in nature, he said.

"Major countries should act like major countries. They should provide more global public goods, take up their due responsibilities and live up to people's expectations," Xi said.

According to Xi, several COVID-19 vaccines developed by China are in Phase III clinical trials, and when they are available for use, these vaccines will be made a global public good, and they will be provided to other developing countries on a priority basis.

"COVID-19 will not be the last crisis to confront humanity, so we must join hands and be prepared to meet even more global challenges," he said.

The COVID-19 pandemic showed that all countries are in an interconnected global village, and no country can gain from others' difficulties or maintain stability by taking advantage of others' troubles, Xi said.

"We should reject attempts to build blocs to keep others out and oppose a zero-sum approach," Xi added.

The president called on all countries to pursue win-win cooperation, rise above ideological disputes and not fall into the trap of the "clash of civilizations".

"More importantly, we should respect a country's independent choice of development path and model," he said.

Economic globalization is an indisputable reality and a historical trend, Xi said.

"Burying one's head in the sand like an ostrich in the face of economic globalization or trying to fight it with Don Quixote's lance goes against the trend of history," he said.

Noting that the Paris Agreement on climate change charts the course for the world to transition to green development, Xi said that China aims to see its carbon dioxide emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.

China will honor its commitment to provide $2 billion of international assistance over two years, and further cooperation in fields such as agriculture, poverty reduction, education, women and children, and climate change, Xi said.

To support the UN in playing its central role in international affairs, Xi announced a number of measures including providing another $50 million to the UN COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan, providing $50 million to the China-FAO South-South Cooperation Trust Fund (Phase III) and extending the Peace and Development Trust Fund between the UN and China by five years after it expires in 2025.