Foreign news
Xi Jinping Says China Firmly Supports UN’s Central Role In Int’l Affairs
Chinese President Xi Jinping told UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday that China has no intention to upset the status quo in relation to the international system but to improve UN-led global governance.
Xi made the remarks during a video meeting with the UN chief on the sideline of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly.
Earlier at the UNGA, Xi announced a series of measures to support the UN in playing the core role in international affairs.
The Chinese president called for a global response to the virus and giving the World Health Organization a leading role, adding that China will provide additional financial support of 50 million U.S. dollars to the COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan of the UN.
China will establish a third-phase South-South Cooperation Trust Fund with the Food and Agriculture Organization totaling 50 million U.S. dollars and will offer a five-year extension to the China-UN Peace and Development Fund, which had been due to expire in 2025. China will also set up a UN Global Geospatial Knowledge and Innovation Center and an International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals, which will facilitate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Xi said.
Speaking to the UN chief, Xi reiterated that China is committed to defending world peace and international order and to being a contributor to global development.
The COVID-19 pandemic shows just how much the world needs the UN-centered international system, Xi pointed out, while calling on global efforts to think beyond national and ideological boundaries so as to build a better future for all mankind.
The pandemic has magnified global governance problems, and relevant parties should think about how to improve the system instead of overthrowing and rebuilding one, Xi said.
“In the world, there is only one system, namely the UN-centered international system, and only one set of rules – the basic norms of international relations based on the UN Charter.”
“China opposes ideological confrontation, decoupling and hegemony.”
Xi said what concerns Chinese leaders most is how to improve the livelihood of Chinese people.
But he told Guterres that China will not compromise when it comes to national sovereignty, dignity and development, saying China will firmly defend its own rights as well as international fairness and justice.
Xi said all countries should strengthen connectivity and think beyond national, ethnical, cultural, and ideological boundaries so as to work together to build a community of shared future for all mankind.
Guterres echoed Xi, saying that the world needs multilateralism and cooperation now more than ever in the face of the pandemic, climate change, and other challenges.
The world needs a more effective United Nations, he said.
Guterres also thanked China’s firm support to the multilateralism and the UN.
China plays a constructive role in maintaining peace and promoting development globally, and with China’s support, the UN is able to function more effectively, Guterres said.
Guterres hailed Xi’s proposals for the UN’s role in the post-pandemic era, saying that the UN hopes to strengthen cooperation with China in different areas and looks forward to seeing China to play a leading role.
Foreign news
Court of Arbitration Declares Indus Waters Treaty Fully Operational Rejects India’s ‘Abeyance’
Cyril Ogar
The Court of Arbitration has unanimously reaffirmed that the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) remains fully in force, ruling that India cannot unilaterally place the 1960 agreement in “abeyance” or suspend its obligations under the treaty.
The decision represents a significant legal development in the longstanding dispute between India and Pakistan over the management and use of the Indus river system.
The Court’s finding addresses a fundamental issue at the heart of the dispute: whether either party can unilaterally suspend the treaty outside the legal framework agreed by both countries.
In its unanimous determination, the Court made clear that the IWT continues to bind both India and Pakistan and that its obligations cannot be set aside through a unilateral political declaration.
The ruling means India remains subject to the treaty provisions governing the use of the Western Rivers, including requirements relating to the design and operation of hydroelectric projects, as well as the dispute-resolution mechanisms established under the agreement.
The Court has also ordered interim measures concerning the Ratle Hydroelectric Plant, restricting specified construction activities while the broader dispute remains under consideration.
The measures are aimed at preserving the effectiveness of the arbitration process and preventing developments that could prejudice the outcome of the proceedings.
For Pakistan, the decision represents significant legal validation of its longstanding position that the IWT is a binding international agreement and contains no provision allowing either party to unilaterally place it in abeyance.
Pakistan has consistently maintained that disagreements over the treaty should be addressed through the institutional mechanisms established by the agreement, rather than through unilateral action.
The IWT provides a structured framework for resolving disputes through mechanisms including the Permanent Indus Commission, Neutral Expert and Court of Arbitration processes.
The latest ruling therefore reinforces the principle that treaty obligations cannot simply be disregarded because of deteriorating political relations between signatories.
The significance of the decision extends beyond the India-Pakistan dispute. It underscores the broader international-law principle that agreements governing shared rivers and other transboundary resources must be respected and disputes resolved through established legal and institutional channels.
The Indus river system supports agriculture, livelihoods, food security and communities across the region, making the stability of the treaty particularly important.
The ruling also highlights the distinction between seeking to amend an international agreement through mutually agreed procedures and attempting to alter its obligations unilaterally.
The IWT has endured wars, prolonged diplomatic tensions and periods of limited bilateral engagement. Its continued operation demonstrates the importance of rules-based mechanisms in managing shared resources when relations between neighbouring states become strained.
For Pakistan, the outcome provides an opportunity to frame the decision not merely as a bilateral legal victory, but as an affirmation of international law, treaty compliance and peaceful dispute resolution.
The central message from the ruling is clear: the Indus Waters Treaty remains in force, its obligations continue to bind both parties, and disputes concerning shared waters must be addressed through the legal mechanisms agreed by India and Pakistan.
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