BEIJING — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi used a rare press briefing on Wednesday to highlight what he described as a serious lack of representation for emerging markets within the United Nations, an institution whose authority he said is being increasingly tested by growing political and economic tensions around the world.
The briefing was held in connection with the release of a white paper laying out proposals for making global governance more just and equitable.
“Countries, whether large or small, strong or weak, developed or developing, are equal members of the international community,” Wang said. He called for developing nations — collectively known as the Global South — to have a stronger voice in international affairs.
Wang painted a stark picture of the current global situation, warning that rapidly emerging challenges are creating a web of overlapping crises. “The ship of civilisation has entered dangerous waters with hidden reefs and violent storms,” he said.
He also cautioned that deep-rooted conflicts are being exposed by current disputes, and that so-called “black swan and grey rhino events” — terms referring to sudden unexpected developments and slow-moving but visible threats that go unaddressed — continue to arise.
While Wang referenced the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, he did not go into specific details about either situation.
The white paper, Wang explained, is intended to help build international consensus so the global community can respond more effectively to shared challenges. He emphasized that protecting the authority and standing of the United Nations is central to making that effort succeed.
