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First-Ever Virtual Gathering at U.N. General Assembly; Xi Addresses UNGA. Aired 10-11a ET

Aired September 22, 2020 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[10:00:00]

BECKY ANDERSON, CNNI HOST (voice-over): Well, this hour, the president of the United States moments away from his virtual speech at an unprecedented

United Nations General Assembly.

I'm Becky Anderson. Hello and welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD.

Well, the speech will come after the start of the general debate at a General Assembly like we have never seen before. We are looking at pictures

of the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. She will introduce the president momentarily.

As you can see -- or you will see -- this is all live streamed, digital diplomacy in the year of the coronavirus pandemic. This year there's no

filled auditorium, no meetings or negotiations on the sidelines. Instead, just diplomats from each nation in the assembly hall.

As you see here now, introducing what will be a prerecorded speech by the president and video presentations on major topics like climate change and

the pandemic. Let's listen in to the speech by the U.S. president.

[10:01:25]

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.: we are once again engaged in a great global struggle. We have waged a fierce battle against the invisible enemy

-- the China virus -- which has claimed countless lives in 188 countries.

In the United States, we launched the most aggressive mobilization since the Second World War. We rapidly produced a record supply of ventilators,

creating a surplus that allowed us to share them with friends and partners all around the globe. We pioneered life-saving treatments, reducing our

fatality rate 85 percent since April.

Thanks to our efforts, three vaccines are in the final stage of clinical trials. We are mass-producing them in advance so they can be delivered

immediately upon arrival.

We will distribute a vaccine, we will defeat the virus, we will end the pandemic, and we will enter a new era of unprecedented prosperity,

cooperation, and peace.

As we pursue this bright future, we must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world: China.

In the earliest days of the virus, China locked down travel domestically while allowing flights to leave China and infect the world. China condemned

my travel ban on their country, even as they canceled domestic flights and locked citizens in their homes.

The Chinese government and the World Health Organization -- which is virtually controlled by China -- falsely declared that there was no

evidence of human-to-human transmission. Later, they falsely said people without symptoms would not spread the disease.

The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions.

In addition, every year, China dumps millions and millions of tons of plastic and trash into the oceans, overfishes other countries' waters,

destroys vast swaths of coral reef, and emits more toxic mercury into the atmosphere than any country anywhere in the world. China's carbon emissions

are nearly twice what the U.S. has, and it's rising fast. By contrast, after I withdrew from the one-sided Paris Climate Accord, last year America

reduced its carbon emissions by more than any country in the agreement.

Those who attack America's exceptional environmental record while ignoring China's rampant pollution are not interested in the environment. They only

want to punish America, and I will not stand for it.

If the United Nations is to be an effective organization, it must focus on the real problems of the world. This includes terrorism, the oppression of

women, forced labor, drug trafficking, human and sex trafficking, religious persecution, and the ethnic cleansing of religious minorities.

America will always be a leader in human rights. My administration is advancing religious liberty, opportunity for women, the decriminalization

of homosexuality, combating human trafficking, and protecting unborn children.

We also know that American prosperity is the bedrock of freedom and security all over the world. In three short years, we built the greatest

economy in history, and we are quickly doing it again. Our military has increased substantially in size.

[10:05:00]

We spent $2.5 trillion over the last four years on our military. We have the most powerful military anywhere in the world, and it's not even close.

We stood up to decades of China's trade abuses. We revitalized the NATO Alliance, where other countries are now paying a much more fair share. We

forged historic partnerships with Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador to stop human smuggling. We are standing with the people of Cuba,

Nicaragua, and Venezuela in their righteous struggle for freedom.

We withdrew from the terrible Iran Nuclear Deal and imposed crippling sanctions on the world's leading state sponsor of terror. We obliterated

the ISIS caliphate 100 percent; killed its founder and leader, al-Baghdadi; and eliminated the world's top terrorist, Qasem Soleimani.

This month, we achieved a peace deal between Serbia and Kosovo. We reached a landmark breakthrough with two peace deals in the Middle East, after

decades of no progress. Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain all signed a historic peace agreement in the White House, with many other

Middle Eastern countries to come. They are coming fast, and they know it's great for them and it's great for the world.

These groundbreaking peace deals are the dawn of the new Middle East. By taking a different approach, we have achieved different outcomes -- far

superior outcomes. We took an approach, and the approach worked. We intend to deliver more peace agreements shortly, and I have never been more

optimistic for the future of the region. There is no blood in the sand. Those days are, hopefully, over.

As we speak, the United States is also working to end the war in Afghanistan, and we are bringing our troops home. America is fulfilling our

destiny as peacemaker, but it is peace through strength. We are stronger now than ever before. Our weapons are at an advanced level like we've never

had before -- like, frankly, we've never even thought of having before. And I only pray to God that we never have to use them.

For decades, the same tired voices proposed the same failed solutions, pursuing global ambitions at the expense of their own people. But only when

you take care of your own citizens will you find a true basis for cooperation. As President, I have rejected the failed approaches of the

past, and I am proudly putting America first, just as you should be putting your countries first. That's OK -- that's what you should be doing.

I am supremely confident that next year, when we gather in person, we will be in the midst of one of the greatest years in our history -- and frankly,

hopefully, in the history of the world.

Thank you. God bless you all. God bless America. And God bless the United Nations.

[10:08:13]

ANDERSON: Well, that is an emptyish hall. But the lack of an audience, a live audience, certainly not zapping the energy of the U.S. president.

Donald Trump wrapping up his virtual speech at what is an unprecedented United Nations General Assembly. You are given 15 minutes on the stage, as

it were, this virtual stage.

Generally, in years past, world leaders go way over that. There can be speeches that go on for hours. How fascinating that the U.S. president

wrapped his up in something like five, six minutes.

Let's get you to Joe Johns at the White House with more on President Trump's speech. We have got Nic Robertson, our international diplomatic

editor, joining us and Richard Roth, our veteran U.N. correspondent.

I think we are 27-28 years, through your work at the U.N. and we're delighted that you are joining us.

Let me start with you though, Joe. Just over 40 days to go until the election, you wouldn't have expected Donald Trump to miss the opportunity

to deliver a campaign speech. And this was a campaign speech, sir.

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: That's very true, Becky. And it was rhetorically unremarkable. It certainly sounded like a summation

of the president's tweets as well as his speeches, something he would say on the campaign trail.

[10:10:00]

JOHNS: And it sounded very much in his voice in that not only was it a summation of his speeches, he simply threw out a list, a list of things he

sees as the accomplishments of his administration and another list of things he sees as his grievances, especially with China and the

coronavirus, COVID-19.

Now he also went into Iran and his grievances with Iran also. You have to note that, despite the fact that the president is calling on the rest of

the world to initiate even more punishment for Iran, so far the president has been largely ignored on that front by the international community.

And the United States in some measure stands alone in its continuing pursuit of Iran for what the president says is his desire to keep Iran from

having a nuclear weapon -- Becky.

ANDERSON: That's fascinating.

Nic, what did you make of what you just heard?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, there are echoes of President Trump in 2018, where he really listed off his

achievements and they were flying thick and fast today. I think particularly the way that his language went from telling us how strong the

United States military is and then the next line being China, being critical of China early on as well, he said he'd be critical of China.

So I think that's no surprise. But when you compare and contrast his language to what you heard from Antonio Guterres, the U.N. secretary-

general, he was talking about the need for multilateralism.

And President Trump is saying in his message, America first, you should all be putting your countries first, I don't mind about that, that's what you

should be doing.

So they're talking past each other. And I think by having a virtual UNGA this year, that opportunity to talk past each other is going to be

heightened, you know?

Normally there's a chance for leaders to kind of meet on the sidelines a bit. And what we'll hear from President Xi, his speech is going to be

about, he'll be criticizing President Trump and America but not as directly as President Trump.

He also will be talking about the need for multilateralism and the need for countries to work together. And that may sound to a lot of people like a

president who is saying one thing and acts completely differently.

But that's how it's going to sound. President Trump was, as you said, bullish because this is his election year. But he does this. He comes to

the U.N. and he sets out his stall: this is who I am. You can be like it, too.

ANDERSON: Richard Roth, a U.S. president using the United Nations' stage to tee up his effectively -- you know, his speech to U.S. voters,

fascinating, given that this is a president who has delivered stinging blows to the cause as of multilateralism, the very heart and DNA of the

United Nations.

You have been covering these UNGA events for 27 years. Just step back to reflect on what we are seeing across the board, what we should expect to

see this year. But let's just start off with what you just heard.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: All right. A lot to say. First of all, I have never come into the special high level week wearing a

mask. So the global pandemic has changed this General Assembly. It is unprecedented.

That is why every speech is prerecorded. Now would President Trump's remarks be as bellicose and almost foghorn pounding away without seeing the

audience eye to eye?

Probably there would be a bit of an adjustment in tone. You remember when the audience laughed at him two years ago, no give and take in this speech.

He went right at China. You don't often hear speeches given like this.

There's no interaction among the countries here because no one is here. The halls are empty, it's like a ghost town. It's shocking to see. Everyone

else, other than the United States, talks about multilateralism and everybody working together including, secretary-general Guterres.

Any doubts about that happening should be shattered by President Trump's remarks.

Just key lines, yes, he attacked China but so quickly in the speech to say we must hold accountable the nation that released this plague, China.

China, he said.

And also regarding the election and his fate, quote, "I'm supremely confident, when we gather here next year, let's see what the American

voters have to say about that."

China speaks just within the hour. And though it's prerecorded, I'm sure they knew what was coming -- Becky.

ANDERSON: Absolutely.

[10:15:00]

ANDERSON: Prerecorded speeches, of course, as you rightly point out, making for no ad-libbed moments. You will remember this moment from 2018.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: My administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country. America's -- it's so true.

Didn't expect that reaction but that's OK.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Richard Gallon, who is the U.N. Director of the International Crisis Group, says -- I quote him here. He really doubts, Richard, that the

presidents and the prime ministers are going to be sitting at home with a bucket of popcorn, watching all of their counterparts.

Who is actually going to be tuning in?

ROTH: I think many of the world leaders will watch this morning. That's really, you might want to say, the premiere night for this event. You have

got President Putin making rare events to the U.N.; the U.S., China, Iranian president Rouhani with the battle over the snapback in

international sanctions demanded by the U.S., other Security Council countries.

They'll watch this. But you know, during the General Assembly week, after the big first morning, things tend to empty out. And Boris Johnson of the

U.K. or any prime minister usually gets stuck with a late, late slot in front of a -- maybe 25 percent filled audience.

Only one diplomat per country is allowed into the hall and, thus, that's why it seemed even emptier than normal. Probably about 200 people in the

hall; normally, on a day like this, 2,500 -- Becky.

ANDERSON: Yes, fascinating. Stand by, Richard.

Back to you, Nic. UNGA coming at a time when the world needs to work together to overcome this global pandemic. We are living in unprecedented

times. And a new Pew survey, which polled people from 14 countries with advanced economies, took a look at the state of multilateralism.

And it's important with the backdrop of the United Nations General Assembly that we take a look at this -- 81 percent said countries around the world

should act as a part of a global community that works together to solve problems.

Meanwhile, 17 percent of countries around the world say that they should act as independent nations that compete with other countries and pursue

their own interests.

Have a listen to what the United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres said just yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTONIO GUTERRES, U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES: No one wants a world government. But we must work together to improve world governments.

In an interconnected world, we need a network of multilateralism, in which the United Nations family, international financial institutions, regional

organizations, trading blocs and others work together more closely and more effectively.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: An appeal by the secretary-general, who is, as we are, marking the 75th anniversary of the United Nations.

Nic, the big question is this. Is this still a relevant organization?

Is this still a relevant organization, is it still as trusted as it ever was?

ROBERTSON: Well, what the U.N. is trying to use the 75th anniversary in a way to rebrand itself or reconnect itself. And we have seen this across

many large global institutions -- NATO had tried to do that.

What the U.N. is -- one of their messages will be on this week underlying the UNGA, is the world that you want, the U.N. that you need.

So they're trying to revalidate themselves there. I think, listening to president Bolsonaro speaking immediately before President Trump, you had a

sense that you were listening to another authoritarian leader there, delivering in the same way as President Trump, telling everyone what's he's

done, defending himself over what he's done in Brazil, saying what a good - - speaking to a domestic audience as well, the populist message, that they're doing well.

In this way, these leaders talk past each other. But I think when you hear from some of the democracies around the world, you will hear them, the

Frances, the Germanys, the Britains, so many other nations, that you will hear them talk to the multilateralism -- and President Xi also.

But in the democracies, you will get a sense that this is what they're striving for. But I think we're hearing very strident messages here,

authoritarian, populist -- we'll hear from effective dictators as well -- that are going to really call into question whether or not global

institutions like the U.N. have a real value because the proof of the pudding, Becky, as we all know, is always in the eating.

[10:20:00]

ROBERTSON: And if they cannot get on together and if they cannot speak the same language and they cannot come to agreement -- and climate change is

the most pressing one -- it begs that fundamental question.

And I think this is what the secretary-general at the U.N. is trying to do, will try to do throughout this week, is reinforce the message that, to be

relevant they have to work together.

I'm not so sure that the forum -- the virtual forum that we have in New York -- is really going to be a forum that's convincing for that. People

just aren't together physically. And the message is passing by each other.

ANDERSON: Nic, yes, the gloves were certainly off in the U.S. president's speech. China in his crosshairs. We are just watching the wrapping of the

Turkish president in his recorded speech. The China president Xi Jinping's address to the United Nations General Assembly is next. We'll take a very

short break before that. Back after this.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

ANDERSON: Welcome back. It's 22 minutes past 6:00 here in the UAE. We are looking at the action in New York -- or at least the virtual action there

at the U.N. General Assembly.

We have just heard from the American president, reinforcing familiar themes in what was his virtual address to the United Nations. In the next few

minutes, we are expecting to hear from China's president, Xi Jinping.

We have Joe Johns who is at the White House for you; Richard Roth is at the U.N. and our international diplomatic editor, Nic Robertson, is in London

for us.

We will revisit some of the sound that we heard, Joe, from the U.S. president. But he had certainly, from the outset of what sounded like a

campaign speech touting his excesses, put China squarely in his crosshairs. We await to hear from his Chinese counterpart. Your thoughts.

JOHNS: Well, the first thing this is something that the president has done all over the country. He blames China. He uses that term "China virus,"

which is offensive to many here in the United States.

And the one thing the president does not say in his speeches, in his public pronouncements, in his Twitter feed, is that many health care professionals

blame the United States in the early days of COVID-19, which is the president's whole issue, for not moving swiftly enough on its own.

Certainly the president did, in fact, shut down some travel between the United States and China. But there were a series of other steps that this

president might have been able to take. If he had taken those steps, certainly in February, it is believed that a lot of American lives would

not have been lost.

[10:25:00]

JOHNS: So the president is in some ways looking for a scapegoat. And he has been all along because voters here in the United States, polls suggest,

do blame this administration for moving too slowly, slow-walking the issue of COVID-19. And the president likes to blame China because that's the

convenient, if you will, scapegoat.

China certainly should have done some things. And China certainly should not have done some things. It's an entire controversy. But the fact of the

matter is, the United States has its own issues to blame on itself. And the president never touches those.

ANDERSON: Before I let you go, I know that it's a busy day at the White House and in Washington for you, Donald Trump has just tweeted, saying that

he will announce his Supreme Court pick on Saturday at the White House. This, of course, the empty chair from Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who, sadly,

passed away on Friday.

What's the latest from your sources, sir?

JOHNS: Well, what we do know is that the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is responsible for confirmation hearings and pushing such

nominations to the Senate floor, says the votes do exist in order to pass - - in order to confirm any nominee that the president may name.

We do expect, in all likelihood, it will be a woman named Amy Barrett out of Indiana. She's a judge.

And it's important also to say that the latest information we do have is, in fact, senator Mitt Romney from Utah, who's been a critic of the

president over a variety of issues, has indicated he, too, supports the idea of a vote for the president's nominee.

So it sounds like they have the votes to move this forward very quickly, despite the fact that Democrats say this is an election issue and the

person who wins in November, the Oval Office, that ought to be the person who gets to name this person to replace Justice Ginsburg.

ANDERSON: It's a really big deal. It goes to the heart of how the U.S. is run going forward. The Supreme Court judges sit in judgment on decisions,

on legislation that will inform, you know, a generation of Americans to come. Joe, always a pleasure. I know I'm likely to lose you in the next

couple of minutes -- you are a very busy man -- but we really appreciate your time.

Let me bring back both Richard and Nic Robertson.

Nic, we have some sound from the virtual speech that Donald Trump just made at the U.N. so let's -- for the purposes of our viewers, who may just be

joining us, just a snippet of what he said in the past 20 minutes or so.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: For decades, the same tired voices propose the same failed solutions, pursuing global ambitions at the expense of their own people.

But only when you take care of your own citizens will you find a true basis for cooperation. As president, I have rejected the failed approaches of the

past and I am proudly putting America first, just as you should be putting your countries first. That's okay. That's what you should be doing.

I am supremely confident that next year, when we gather in person, we will be in the midst of one of the greatest years in our history. And frankly,

hopefully, in the history of the world. Thank you, God bless you all. God bless America. And God bless the United Nations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Nic, I have about 2.5 minutes and I want to get to Richard as well, so 30, 40 seconds, what do you make of what you heard?

ROBERTSON: Yes, campaign speeches and everything that everyone who has come before me has done is wrong and is bad. I'm the guy that came in,

mixed it up, changed it up, I have done it better.

We have heard him so many times through his presidency say, I'm going to put America first, you put yourselves first as well.

But that's not the sort of rhetoric that many of the leaders are going to want to come in, certainly not the message that the U.N. secretary-general

wants to hear. He wants to hear people, yes, say that they'll take care of their people but he wants to say that they'll care of the people in other

countries as well, which means contributing to COVID-19 drugs.

The president did mention that he had contributed ventilators for other countries but contributing to the whole development of the vaccines, to the

dispersal and dissemination of the vaccines when they're ready, to a global cooperation. And that wasn't what resonated in Trump's message.

[10:30:00]

ROBERTSON: It will sound out of kilter to what the U.N. secretary-general wanted the message overall to be.

ANDERSON: Richard, just how odd is this United Nations General Assembly pandemic style?

ROTH: How odd is it?

It's bizarre but it's the way that the world has been and everyone from an ambassador a president to a private citizen has had to react. People are

wearing masks. There are extra hand sanitizers on the sides of the General Assembly hall.

Malta put out a gift bag with masks and sanitizers before anyone could go into the hall. And just following up on Nic, somewhere, Franklin Delano

Roosevelt, Harry Truman, their relatives, those who believe in what they did, in founding the United Nations, along with the other countries, the 50

original members, including China, somewhere they're rolling something, be -- a lot of the world is watching this American election and what will

happen next.

But Donald Trump, it's every country for itself. That's not clearly what the United Nations was founded on and, yes, as everyone here says, the

organization is not perfect; they always say, without it you might have had a third World War. There have been a lot of other wars. We'll see what

happens in the next year, Donald Trump promises -- Becky.

ANDERSON: Richard, Nic, appreciate it.

We're taking a short break. Back after this.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:35:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

ANDERSON: You're with CONNECT THE WORLD. We are about to hear from China's president addressing the United Nations at its first-ever virtual

gathering. That is under way this hour.

Just moments ago, U.S. president Trump blasted China for its handling of the coronavirus. And the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is set to speak

shortly as well, amid fresh tensions between Tehran and Washington.

The U.S. unveiled new sanctions on Iran on Monday. Let's have a listen in to what the Chinese president has to say.

XI JINPING, PRESIDENT OF CHINA (through translator): -- on the basis of reviewing the historical experience and lessons of the World Anti-Fascist

War.

Mr. President, we humans are battling COVID-19, a virus that has ravaged the world and has kept resurging. In this fight, we have witnessed the

efforts of governments, dedication of medical workers, exploration of scientists and perseverance of the public. People of different countries

have come together. With courage, resolve and compassion which lit the dark hour, we have confronted the disaster head on. The virus will be defeated.

Humanity will win this battle.

Facing the virus, we should put people and life first. We should mobilize all resources to make a science-based and targeted response. No case should

be missed and no patient should be left untreated. The spread of the virus must be contained.

Facing the virus, we should enhance solidarity and get this through together. We should follow the guidance of science, give full play to the

leading role of the World Health Organization and launch a joint international response to beat this pandemic. Any attempt of politicizing

the issue or stigmatization must be rejected.

Facing the virus, we should adopt comprehensive and long-term control measures. We should reopen businesses and schools in an orderly way, so as

to create jobs, boost the economy and restore economic and social order and vitality.

The major economies need to step up macro policy coordination. We should not only restart our own economies but also contribute to global recovery.

Facing the virus, we should show concern for and accommodate the need of developing countries, especially African countries.

The international community needs to take timely and robust measures in such fields as debt relief and international assistance, ensure the

implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and help these countries overcome their difficulties.

Seventy-five years ago, China made historic contributions to winning the World Anti-Fascist War and supported the founding of the United Nations.

Today, with the same sense of responsibility, China is actively involved in the international fight against COVID-19, contributing its share to

upholding global public health security.

[10:40:00]

XI (through translator): Going forward, we will continue to share our epidemic control practices as well as diagnostics and therapeutics with

other countries, provide support and assistance to countries in need, ensure stable global anti-epidemic supply chains and actively participate

in the global research on tracing the source and transmission routes of the virus.

At the moment, several COVID-19 vaccines developed by China are in phase III clinical trials. When their development is completed and they are

available for use, these vaccines will be made a global public good and they will be provided to other developing countries on a priority basis.

China will honor its commitment of providing US$2 billion of international assistance over two years, further international cooperation in such fields

as agriculture, poverty reduction, education, women and children and climate change and support other countries in restoring economic and social

development.

Mr. President, the history of development of human society is a history of our struggles against all challenges and difficulties and our victories

over them. At present, the world is battling the COVID-19 pandemic as it goes through profound changes never seen in a century.

Yet peace and development remain the underlying trend of the times and people everywhere crave even more strongly for peace, development and win-

win cooperation. COVID-19 will not be the last crisis to confront humanity, so we must join hands and be prepared to meet even more global challenges.

First, COVID-19 reminds us that we are living in an interconnected global village with a common stake. All countries are closely connected and we

share a common future. No country can gain from others' difficulties or maintain stability by taking advantage of others' troubles.

To pursue a beggar-thy-neighbor policy or just watch from a safe distance, when others are in danger, will eventually land one in the same trouble

faced by others. This is why we should embrace the vision of a community with a shared future, in which everyone is bound together.

We should reject attempts to build blocs to keep others out and oppose a zero-sum approach. We should see each other as members of the same big

family, pursue win-win cooperation and rise above ideological disputes and do not fall into the trap of "clash of civilizations."

More importantly, we should respect a country's independent choice of development path and model. The world is diverse in nature and we should

turn this diversity into a constant source of inspiration driving human advancement. This will ensure that human civilizations remain colorful and

diversified.

Second, COVID-19 reminds us that economic globalization is an indisputable reality and a historical trend. Burying one's head in the sand like an

ostrich in the face of economic globalization or trying to fight it with Don Quixote's lance goes against the trend of history.

Let this be clear: The world will never return to isolation and no one can sever the ties between countries. We should not dodge the challenges of

economic globalization.

Instead, we must face up to major issues such as the wealth gap and the development divide.

We should strike a proper balance between the government and the market, fairness and efficiency, growth and income distribution and technology and

employment so as to ensure full and balanced development that delivers benefit to people from all countries, sectors and backgrounds in an

equitable way.

We should pursue open and inclusive development, remain committed to building an open world economy and uphold the multilateral trading regime

with the World Trade Organization as the cornerstone.

We should say no to unilateralism and protectionism and work to ensure the stable and smooth functioning of global industrial and supply chains.

Third, COVID-19 reminds us that humankind should launch a green revolution and move faster to create a green way of development and life, preserve the

environment and make Mother Earth a better place for all.

Humankind can no longer afford to ignore the repeated warnings of Nature and go down the beaten path of extracting resources without investing in

conservation, pursuing development at the expense of protection and exploiting resources without restoration.

The Paris agreement on climate change charts the course for the world to transition to green and low-carbon development.

[10:45:00]

XI (through translator): It outlines the minimum steps to be taken to protect the Earth, our shared homeland and all countries must take decisive

steps to honor this Agreement.

China will scale up its intended nationally determined contributions by adopting more vigorous policies and measures. We aim to have CO2 emissions

peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.

We call on all countries to pursue innovative, coordinated, green and open development for all, seize the historic opportunities presented by the new

round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, achieve a green recovery of the world economy in the post-

COVID era and, thus, create a powerful force driving sustainable development.

Fourth, COVID-19 reminds us that the global governance system calls for reform and improvement. COVID-19 is a major test of the governance capacity

of countries; it is also a test of the global governance system.

We should stay true to multilateralism and safeguard the international system with the U.N. at its core. Global governance should be based on the

principle of extensive consultation, joint cooperation and shared benefits so as to ensure that all countries enjoy equal rights and opportunities and

follow the same rules.

The global governance system should adapt itself to evolving global political and economic dynamics, meet global challenges and embrace the

underlying trend of peace, development and win-win cooperation.

It is natural for countries to have differences. What's important is to address them through dialogue and consultation. Countries may engage in

competition but such competition should be positive and healthy in nature.

When in competition, countries should not breach the moral standard and should comply with international norms. In particular, major countries

should act like major countries. They should provide more global public goods, take up their due responsibilities and live up to people's

expectations.

Mr. President, since the start of this year, we, the 1.4 billion Chinese, undaunted by the strike of COVID-19 and with the government and the people

united as one, have made all-out efforts to control the virus and speedily restore life and economy to normalcy.

We have every confidence to achieve our goals within the set time frame, that is, to finish the building of a moderately prosperous society in all

respects, lift out of poverty all rural residents living below the current poverty line and meet, 10 years ahead of schedule, the poverty eradication

target set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

China is the largest developing country in the world, a country that is committed to peaceful, open, cooperative and common development. We will

never seek hegemony, expansion or sphere of influence. We have no intention to fight either a Cold War or a hot war with any country.

We will continue to narrow differences and resolve disputes with others through dialogue and negotiation. We do not seek to develop only ourselves

or engage in a zero-sum game. We will not pursue development behind closed doors.

Rather, we aim to foster, over time, a new development paradigm with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international

circulations reinforcing each other. This will create more space for China's economic development and add impetus to global economic recovery

and growth.

China will continue to work as a builder of global peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of international order. To support the

U.N. in playing its central role in international affairs, I hereby announce the following steps to be taken by China:

China will provide another US$50 million to the U.N. COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan; China will provide US$50 million to the China-

FAO South-South Cooperation Trust Fund Phase III; China will extend the peace and development trust fund between the U.N. and China by five years

after it expires in 2025; China will set up a U.N. global geospatial knowledge and innovation center.

[10:50:00]

XI (through translator): And an international research center of big data for sustainable development goals to facilitate the implementation of the

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Mr. President, colleagues, the baton of history has been passed to our generation and we must make the right choice, a choice worthy of the

people's trust and of our times. Let us join hands to uphold the values of peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom shared by all of

us and build a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind.

Together, we can make the world a better place for everyone.

ANDERSON: President Xi dedicating certainly the first part of his virtual speech to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The spread of the virus must be contained, he said, and we should do this together. We should follow the science. And any attempt to politicize the

issue should be rejected, the Chinese president said.

His speech followed the U.S. president's, who came out of the gate swinging, referring to the, quote, "China virus," and saying China should

be held accountable for the pandemic. We will discuss this and more after this short break. Stay with us.

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ANDERSON: You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson.

President Trump says that the United Nations should hold China accountable for the coronavirus pandemic and declares the U.S. will end the pandemic.

We have been listening to virtual speeches in what is an unprecedented gathering at the U.N., unprecedented in that nobody is really gathering. A

man who has been covering these events for more than a quarter of a century with us, as probably forgotten more about these UNGA events than we'll ever

know.

Fascinating in that effectively nobody is there this year, Richard. This is the UNGA, pandemic style. But we have already heard from the U.S. president

and, to counter his message, as it were, from his Chinese counterpart.

ROTH: Yes, Becky. All the speeches are prerecorded; however, each country gets to have their head of state or government introduced, usually by their

U.N. ambassador. That provided an opening for a real-time response to a speech, such as President Trump's strong attack on China and holding it

accountable for the plague, as he said.

The Chinese U.N. ambassador said that China rejects the baseless allegations against China, no matter what anyone says. China supports

multilateralism; that in response to President Trump saying, look out for yourself.

[10:55:00]

ROTH: And then President Xi's taped remarks did play, certainly more moderate in tone than President Trump. He said we should care about

everybody's life, all patients. He paid tribute to health care workers, a much more moderate, sympathetic speech than president Donald Trump.

But let's make no mistake, China is filling a gigantic vacuum left by the United States on political and peacekeeping and other grounds and many

diplomats here warn or are concerned about or wonder how deep will China's influence will go, especially with the U.S. on the side.

And one little quick point. This is the 75th anniversary of the United Nations. Very telling that, on the anniversary day yesterday for the event

about the 75 years, the U.S. president did not give a speech; China's president and many others did.

And the U.S. ambassador was in Washington as Secretary Pompeo denounced Iran over sanctions. So that's how much this administration thinks about

the U.N.

ANDERSON: Well, this administration has treated the U.N., quite frankly, with contempt. Richard, a pleasure having you on.

We await the speech from the Russian president and that sort of kicks off what will be a week of virtual speeches, 193 countries of course. You won't

see all of the speeches here on CNN but you will see those that are the most important.

We are going to take a very short break at this point. As you know, if you are a regular viewer of this show, this is a two-hour show, That's your

first hour done. Hour two is coming up. I'm Becky Anderson. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD live from the UAE. Stay with us.

[11:00:00]

END