On December 16, 2019 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the 14th Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Madrid, and made an introductory speech at the plenary session, expounding on the Chinese side's proposition on multilateralism.

Wang Yi expressed, the ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting with the theme of "effective multilateralism" reflects the common aspirations of Asian and European countries to strengthen solidarity and cooperation. Together, 53 ASEM members will carry forward the strong voice of the era of multilateralism and gather the powerful energy to support multilateralism.

Wang Yi pointed out, we should adhere to taking it our aim to safeguard peace and promote development in practicing multilateralism. Multilateralism is a "golden key" in tackling global challenges. Whatever the version of multilateralism, the goal is to promote world peace and development. Countries in Asia and Europe should set an example in safeguarding multilateralism, and firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations (UN) at its core and the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) as its cornerstone. We support the necessary reforms of the WTO and all parties' efforts to restore the functioning of the WTO Appellate Body. We must tap into the growth potential through innovation and cooperation, oppose technology blockade and digital hegemony, and be against creating technological divide and development decoupling. All countries are obliged to provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for foreign companies that invest, operate and have cooperation on their soil. China will host the 15th session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2020. We look forward to an ambitious outcome from the session to make important contributions to the world's response to climate change.

Wang Yi said, we should adhere to basing our efforts on international law and universally recognized norms governing international relations in practicing multilateralism. The international order cannot be trampled on, and we cannot withdraw from international agreements at will. We should safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and abide by the commitment to upholding the rule of international law. We are opposed to putting self-interest above other countries, and distorting international law, long-arm jurisdiction and unilateral sanctions.

Wang Yi said, we should adhere to upholding fairness, justice and win-win cooperation in practicing multilateralism. We should uphold mutual respect and equal treatment, abandon ideological prejudice and the outdated Cold War mentality, and respect other countries' development paths suited to their own national conditions. We should actively synergize such initiatives as the Belt and Road Initiative, the Eurasian Economic Union, the European Union Strategy on Connecting Europe and Asia, and the Master Plan on Association of Southeast Asian Nations Connectivity. China will host the second UN Global Sustainable Transport Conference next year. China hopes to seize the opportunity to inject new impetus into and make new contributions to the connectivity and common development of Asia, Europe and the world at large.