Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying Attends the Fourth Forum on Developing Countries and International Law

On June 24, 2026, Vice Foreign Minister Hua Chunying attended and addressed the opening ceremony of the Fourth Forum on Developing Countries and International Law in Beijing.

Hua Chunying stated that amid the current turbulent and complex international landscape, people have come to a deeper appreciation that the Global Governance Initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping is indeed timely. International rule of law is the fundamental safeguard for global governance. We should uphold sovereign equality and defend the authority of the United Nations (UN) Charter to ensure that the sovereignty and dignity of all countries are truly respected, that all countries have the right to choose their own social systems and development paths independently, and that they can participate in global governance on an equal footing. We should practice multilateralism and improve international rules. More countries are welcome to join the International Organization for Mediation, and we give active support to the establishment of the secretariat of the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) in Xiamen. We should advocate a people-centered approach and promote common development, and oppose the politicization, weaponization and overstretching concept of security in economic, trade and scientific and technological cooperation, which undermines the normal international economic and trade order and the security of industrial and supply chains, and hurts the legitimate development interests of other countries. We should be action-oriented and unite the Global South, improve the global governance system through the rule of law, and advance the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

UN Under-Secretary-General Elinor Jane Britt Hammarskjöld said in a video message that resolving global issues in accordance with international law is a fundamental task for the international community. The entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement and other latest outcomes demonstrate the relevance of international law and multilateralism. The UN will continue to support the capacity-building of developing countries and help them address global challenges.

The forum, themed "International Rule of Law and Global Governance-Vision for Sustaining Peace and Advancing Prosperity," brought together representatives from international organizations including the UN, the African Union and the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO), diplomatic envoys from Asian and African countries, as well as about 300 participants comprising renowned Chinese and foreign experts and representatives from domestic practice sectors.