China's Xi calls for nuclear-free world at the United Nations

Record ID: 164629

  • Title: China's Xi calls for nuclear-free world at the United Nations
  • Date: 18th January 2017
  • Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (JANUARY 18, 2017) (REUTERS) U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES AND CHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING ABOUT TO UNVEIL CHINA'S GIFT TO THE UNITED NATIONS IN FRONT OF GUESTS GUTERRES AND XI UNVEILING A GIANT PORCELAIN VASE / GUTERRES AND XI JINPING SHAKING HANDS VARIOUS OF VASE U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL GUTERRES AND XI JINPING SHAKING HANDS PEOPLE LOOKING AT VASE IN CASE
  • Embargoed: 1st February 2017 22:38
  • Keywords: China president UN nuclear world
  • Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
  • City: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: Government/Politics,United Nations
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015ZM1I6F
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Chinese president Xi Jinping called for the world to unite on nuclear disarmament during a visit to the United Nations in Geneva on Wednesday (January 18).
    "Nuclear weapons, the sword of Damocles that hangs over mankind, should completely be prohibited and thoroughly destroyed over time to make the world free from such weapons," he told the audience during his address, which portrayed China as the leader of a globalised world where only international cooperation could solve the big problems.
    "China's proposition is: to build a community of a shared future for mankind, a win-win future, where everyone benefits," he said.
    Two days before the inauguration of Donald Trump who has promised to be a U.S. president putting "America first", Xi urged countries to resist isolationism.
    He called on global unity on everything from environmental protection to terrorism as well as nuclear disarmament, in contrast to Trump who has said he has an "open mind" on climate change and that the United States would win any nuclear arms race.
    UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said china's commitment to multilateralism was "more necessary than ever".
    "We see a multiplication of conflicts around the world, conflicts that are more and more complex and interlinked and linked to this new phenomenon of global terrorism. We see how population growth and climate change, movements of people, food insecurity, water scarcity are combining themselves in a way that creates instability, unrest and even conflict. This is a moment in which only a global approach can solve global problems, this is a moment in which only multilateralism is the answer," he said.
    Xi is on a four-day state visit to Switzerland that has included events in Davos.
    His speech was the finale of a trip that included topping the bill at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The United Nations - at risk of budget cuts from Trump - ensured the grandest possible welcome for Xi, and many U.N. staff went home early to clear the way for the red carpet.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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