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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Ted Anthony

China, as usual, uses UN speech to promote global development as solution to world's challenges

UN General Assembly China - (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

A day after his boss met with President Donald Trump in Washington, China's vice president unfurled the nation's familiar list of global talking points, emphasizing development, issuing mild statements about the U.S. war with Iran, artificial intelligence and protectionism, and making no direct mention of Taiwan.

Han Zheng's speech to the U.N. General Assembly landed somewhat anticlimactically after Chinese President Xi Jinping met Trump for a state dinner and a visit to the National Archives. Most noteworthy about the address was the presence of Han himself: China has often used high-profile public events to position its rising leaders on the global stage.

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