NICE, France -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng said on Sunday that China is willing to take the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations as an opportunity to deepen cooperation with the organization, jointly uphold genuine multilateralism, and make new contributions to world peace and global development.

Han made the remarks while meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice, France.

Speaking of the turbulent and complex international situation, Han quoted Chinese President Xi Jinping, noting that the more turbulent and complex the international situation becomes, the more countries must uphold and defend the authority of the United Nations, firmly uphold the UN-centered international system, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

China has always supported the United Nations in playing a central role in international affairs, Han said, noting that President Xi mandated a Chinese delegation led by him to participate in the UNOC, which has showcased China's firm support for multilateralism, implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with particular support for the work of the United Nations.

For his part, Guterres said that the world faces severe challenges, noting that China has long been a firm and active supporter of the United Nations, serving as a key pillar in upholding multilateralism and promoting global sustainable development, and as a vital partner of the United Nations.

The United Nations is willing to comprehensively deepen its cooperation with China to uphold multilateralism and the international order, safeguard world peace and security, and better tackle challenges related to marine biodiversity and climate change, to realise the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Guterres added.

China appreciates the United Nations' unwavering and firm adherence to the one-China principle and hopes related UN bodies will remain vigilant against attempts made by certain forces to deliberately distort and challenge the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758, Han said.

The UN chief noted that the United Nations has a firm and clear stance on one-China, and will continue to observe the UNGA Resolution 2758.