Geneva, Switzerland - May 8, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Meeting on "Impact of Global Trade Tensions on Developing Countries" in progress
2. Various of Chen Xu, permanent representative of China to United Nations (UN) office in Geneva, speaking
3. Wu Hailong, president of China Public Diplomacy Association, also board member of South Center, speaking
4. Various of participants of meeting
5. Screen showing UN private session
6. Screen showing "Impact of Global Trade Tensions on Developing Countries"
7. UN trade and development report on table

The Chinese Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office in Geneva and the South Center, an intergovernmental organization of developing nations, co-hosted a dialogue titled "The Impact of Global Trade Tensions on Developing Countries" at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on Thursday.

With participation of over 30 developing countries, the discussions focused on how developing countries can unite and cooperate in response to the U.S. excessive tariff practices.

Representatives at the meeting said that unilateral measures like tariffs are affecting the global economy and the socio-economic development of developing countries. They emphasized the importance of strengthening dialogue and cooperation among all parties to properly handle differences.

Chen Xu, China's permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) office in Geneva, said that the U.S. so-called "reciprocal tariffs" represent typical unilateralism and protectionism, depriving developing countries of opportunities for growth and severely disrupting the global economy and trade order.

China is committed to open cooperation and mutual benefit, and will strengthen collaboration with other developing countries while continuing to uphold the United Nations-centered international system and the World Trade Organization-centered multilateral trading system, said Chen.

Wu Hailong, president of the China Public Diplomacy Association and also a board member of the South Center, said that the U.S. abuse of tariffs is impacting trade and economies in developing countries, disrupting industrial chain and supply chain cooperation and causing instability in financial markets.

China has always been on the side of supporting multilateralism, fairness, and the common interests of the international community, and hopes to strengthen collaboration with the international community to address these challenges together, said Wu.

At the meeting, representatives stressed the importance of maintaining open cooperation and mutual benefit, as well as jointly upholding a multilateral trading system.

They agreed on the need to strengthen South-South trade and enhance the role of trade in promoting development, while working together to implement the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.