China's vice president, Han Zheng, spoke at the U.N. General Assembly, highlighting development as a key principle for solving global problems. His remarks came after a recent meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington. In his speech, Han praised China's progress in economic growth and social stability while criticizing protectionism, arguing that open and cooperative international relations are vital for development. He did not directly reference Taiwan, a region that is often mentioned in Chinese U.N. speeches, despite ongoing tensions between China and the United States over the self-governing island. Han emphasized that development is crucial for maintaining global peace and stability. He mentioned China's "Belt and Road" initiative, a large-scale infrastructure and investment program aimed at promoting economic growth and expanding China's influence around the world. He noted that China has engaged in Belt and Road projects with three-quarters of the world's nations. He also stressed the importance of multilateralism, suggesting that international disputes should be resolved through dialogue rather than unilateral military actions that go against the U.N. charter. Han addressed the situation involving the U.S. and Israel in Iran, expressing support for the sovereignty and security of Middle Eastern countries. He urged nations to avoid Cold War-era thinking and confrontation between blocs. Additionally, he spoke about the importance of empowering the Global South, a term used to describe emerging and economically challenged nations. Han's participation at the U.N. was notable, but his role was not viewed as a major diplomatic signal, as President Xi Jinping was in Washington at the time. In the past, Chinese leaders such as Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao attended U.N. meetings selectively. In 2025, Premier Li Qiang represented China at the U.N., and senior diplomat Wang Yi has also spoken at the U.N. in recent years. Compared to Li's speech, Han's remarks were more direct, focusing on multilateralism and traditional diplomatic language.