China’s Xi urges ‘central role’ of UN in call with Brazil’s Lula

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping called on countries to protect the “central role” of the United Nations in international affairs, urging his Brazilian counterpart on Friday to help safeguard international norms, state media reported.
The comments come after US President Donald Trump unveiled plans for his new “Board of Peace” at the World Economic Forum.
Although originally meant to oversee Gaza’s rebuilding, the board’s charter does not seem to limit its role to the Palestinian territory and has sparked concerns Trump wants to rival the United Nations.
While China and Brazil have both been invited to join Trump’s new grouping, neither has confirmed participation.
Xi told President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during their Friday morning phone call that in the current “tumultuous” international situation, China and Brazil “are constructive forces in maintaining world peace and stability,” according to a readout published by state broadcaster CCTV.
“They should stand firmly on the right side of history… and jointly uphold the central role of the United Nations and international fairness and justice,” Xi said.