China's top envoy to the United Nations said that the COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the importance of multilateralism to all countries.

"After hard struggles against the disease and the loss of countless lives, humankind has finally realized that the virus knows no borders, or race," said Ambassador Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the UN.

"Global collaboration, multilateral cooperation and collective strength is desperately needed in response to the pandemic," Zhang wrote in an op-ed published in the South China Morning Post on Tuesday.

The envoy wrote the article to commemorate the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace on April 24.

Zhang said multilateralism, which is a collective choice made by humankind following a world war, has secured peace and development for the world over the past 75 years.

However, unilateralism is threatening the international system centered on the UN and shaking the international order underpinned by international law.

He said the UN General Assembly, the European Union, the African Union, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Group of 77 and the overwhelming majority of countries fully support the World Health Organization, which has been central to multilateral cooperation efforts on health.

Zhang wrote that the world faces a long list of formidable challenges: "Armed conflicts in Libya, Yemen and Syria remind us that universal peace remains elusive. Terrorism is still threatening our daily lives. Climate change poses an existential challenge to us all."

Zhang said that the global economy is plagued with uncertainties, as the spread of protectionism is disrupting global supply and industrial value chains and undermining world trade. This is compounded by acts of bullying, which are jeopardizing global peace and stability.

"We have no choice but to strengthen multilateral cooperation," he said.

"All countries, big or small, need multilateralism. In a world of interdependence, no one can escape a major challenge or get through it on its own. No country can make itself great in isolation," he said.

To strengthen multilateralism, Zhang said "trust" is a must, which is a foundation of effective cooperation and a prerequisite of coordinated action.

Trust is built on mutual respect, said Zhang, and China respects and learns from Western countries to work for shared prosperity.

Western countries, for their part, should respect the choices of the Chinese people and welcome the progress of a major country in the East, one with a different system from theirs.

Zhang also called for "responsibility", as global governance requires concerted efforts by major countries.

"Withdrawing from multilateral organizations or tearing up international agreements undermines cooperation among countries, and will eventually hurt one's own interests," he noted.

He stressed "equality" in strengthening multilateralism and called for "benefits for all".