Latest news with #UN-centered
Newsweek
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
China Reacts to Trump's UNESCO Decision
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. China accused the U.S. of negating its responsibilities as a major global power in response to President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Trump is pulling the U.S. from UNESCO after his administration's review raised concerns about perceived pro-Palestinian and pro-Chinese bias, and an emphasis on "woke" diversity, equity, and inclusion policies that Washington opposes. "It's the third time the U.S. has withdrawn from UNESCO. The country hasn't paid arrears for a long time. This is not what a major country should do," Guo Jiakun, spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, said at a press briefing on Wednesday, July 23. He added: "China firmly supports UNESCO's work." Jiakun noted the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, and said China calls on all countries "to reaffirm their commitment to multilateralism and take concrete action to support the UN-centered international system". The Trump Administration has sought to withdraw the U.S. from multilateral organizations and agreements that it sees as running against American interests. He had withdrawn from UNESCO during his first term, only for his successor President Joe Biden to re-enter in an effort to counter growing Chinese influence over the agency and its priorities. This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
Gulf Today
16-04-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Xi begins Malaysia visit in shadow of Trump tariffs
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Malaysia on Tuesday for a highly anticipated state visit that comes as Beijing fights an escalating trade war with the United States. Xi embarked this week on a Southeast Asia tour that has already taken him to Vietnam and will also include Cambodia, with Beijing trying to position itself as a stable alternative to US President Donald Trump's punitive tariff regime. The Chinese leader touched down at the airport in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, where he was greeted by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, footage from Chinese state broadcaster CGTN showed. Xi said he was 'looking forward to... further deepening the traditional friendship' between China and Malaysia, CCTV, another Chinese state broadcaster, reported. He said he would 'have an in-depth exchange of views' in meetings with Anwar and king Sultan Ibrahim, according to CCTV. 'With the joint efforts of both sides, this visit will surely achieve fruitful results,' the broadcaster reported him as saying. Xi is scheduled to attend a state banquet at the Malaysian monarch's palace on Wednesday morning before holding talks with Anwar in the administrative capital Putrajaya. He and Anwar will witness the signing of a range of bilateral agreements, according to the Malaysian foreign ministry. 'China will work with Malaysia... to combat the undercurrents of geopolitical and camp-based confrontation, as well as the countercurrents of unilateralism and protectionism,' Xi wrote in an article for Malaysia's The Star newspaper on Tuesday. 'We must uphold the UN-centered international system and the international order... and promote fairer and more equitable global governance,' he wrote. China and Malaysia celebrated their 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations last year and enjoy robust trade ties, though Malaysia has partial claims to parts of the South China Sea, where Beijing has staked out near-blanket sovereignty. Xi urged Vietnam to join forces in upholding free trade, before wrapping up a visit to Hanoi on Tuesday which President Donald Trump said was aiming to 'screw' the United States. Xi visited Vietnam as part of a Southeast Asia tour that include Malaysia and Cambodia, with Beijing trying to position itself as a stable alternative to Trump as leaders confront US tariffs. The Chinese leader called on his country and Vietnam on Monday to 'oppose unilateral bullying and uphold the stability of the global free trade system', according to Beijing's state media. Hours later, Trump told reporters at the White House that their talks were aimed at hurting the United States. 'I don't blame China. I don't blame Vietnam. I don't. I see they're meeting today, and that's wonderful,' he said. 'That's a lovely meeting... like trying to figure out, how do we screw the United States of America.' China and Vietnam signed 45 cooperation agreements on Monday, including on supply chains, artificial intelligence, joint maritime patrols and railway development. Xi said at a meeting with Vietnam's top leader To Lam on Monday that their countries were 'standing at the turning point of history... and should move forward with joined hands'. Lam said after the talks that the two leaders 'reached many important and comprehensive common perceptions', according to Vietnam News Agency. China has remained Malaysia's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, with total trade between the two countries accounting for 16.8 percent of Malaysia's global trade last year, according to the Malaysian foreign ministry. Xi's arrival came hot on the heels of his visit to Vietnam. The two nations said, 'they will jointly oppose hegemony and power politics (and) jointly oppose unilateralism in all forms', in a joint statement published Tuesday in Vietnamese state media after Xi's visit. The two sides also agreed to 'maintain an open, transparent, inclusive, and non-discriminatory multilateral trade regime with the World Trade Organization (WTO) as the core ... and promote economic globalisation'. Agencies
