Li to attend UN General Assembly

He is expected to propose 'pragmatic moves’ to meet world challenges, visit Canada, Cuba

Premier Li Keqiang is expected to announce a raft of "pragmatic moves" supporting the United Nations in addressing global challenges when he attends the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, a senior diplomat said in Beijing on Wednesday.

During his stay in New York from Sunday to Wednesday, the premier is also scheduled to meet with representatives of various US organizations, exchanging views on developing relations between the world’s two largest economies, Vice-Foreign Minister Li Baodong told a news conference.

After the UN’s annual meeting, he will fly to Canada and Cuba, on a trip expected to end on Sept 28.

While details of Li’s schedule in New York were not released, he is expected to join the annual general debate and a UN high-level meeting on refugees and migrants, according to the UN General Assembly agenda.

The UN General Assembly opened its 71st session on Tuesday with a focus on joint global efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals, a blueprint for eradicating poverty and hunger, promoting equality, and protecting the environment for the years leading up to 2030.

The first action plan for implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was formulated at the G20 Summit in Hangzhou this month.

China has been a staunch supporter of UN causes and hopes the annual session of the UN will result in a convergence of efforts in fighting global challenges such as terrorism, the refugee and immigration crises, cyberspace security and spread of infectious diseases.

At the UN headquarters, the premier is likely to expound on China’s standpoints on world order, global governance, and peace and development, and announce a range of measures in support of the UN in dealing with the global challenges, the vice-minister said.

Peter Thomson, president of the General Assembly, said it had been heartening to observe the sincerity with which governments and national planning agencies have begun integrating the 2030 Agenda into national processes.