Chinese President Xi Jinping made a historic speech at a conference on October 25 marking the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) lawful seat in the United Nations. President Xi termed it a great victory for the PRC and the UN at large. President Xi thanked the world for giving one-quarter of the global population their due right and for supporting and sponsoring the UN General Assembly Resolution No. 2758.
The restoration of the PRC’s seat in the UN and the UN Security Council was a historic event in the world. In 1971 when Cold War was continuing, most member states of the UN made efforts to pass the resolution at the 26th General Assembly of the UN prioritizing peace and justice over power politics and the nuclear arms race.
President Xi reminded the world how China has been steadfast in its global commitments to support peace, development, conflict resolution, and openness towards other states. In this regard, Chinese people have made progress to change the circumstances and odds they once faced. Now China is opening up to the world for sharing the experience of national construction, poverty alleviation, reforms, and development. The efforts of the Chinese nation are remarkable and have been recognized by the global community especially the nation’s achievement in economic development and socialism with Chinese characteristics. The nation has also upheld the principles of liberating and developing productive forces to improve people’s living standards. As a result, China has become the second-largest economy in the world and is stepping forward for the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.
Reflecting on China’s world view, President Xi in his speech stressed the intensive Chinese cooperation with the UN to safeguard core principles of the UN and peacebuilding. Chinese people have always upheld the ideals of international fairness, justice, sustainable development, and pursued independent foreign policy. China resolutely opposes hegemonism in international relations and power politics. In support of developing countries, China supports the right of all sovereign countries to safeguard their security, development, and lawful interests. China has especially helped the world during the Covid-19 pandemic to detect, trace and contain the virus. In terms of economy, China proposed the Belt and Road Initiative to create opportunities for developing countries in development, industrialization, infrastructure construction, energy and connectivity.
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers an important speech at a commemorative meeting marking the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the People’s Republic of China’s lawful seat in the United Nations (UN), in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 25, 2021. (Photo/Xinhua)
With strengthening the bilateral and multilateral cooperation under the UN framework, China has made enormous contributions to the UN through upholding its authority and centrality in international affairs as well as fulfilling the responsibilities of being a permanent member of the UN Security Council. China safeguards the sanctity of the UN charter, advocates peaceful settlement of disputes, commits more than 50,000 people to participate in peacekeeping missions under the flag of the UN, supports multilateralism and contributes to Sustainable Development Goals Agenda 2030 (SDGs) mandated by the UN. China is further committed to working with the UN on poverty alleviation programs to end poverty worldwide, protect the rights of women, children and disadvantaged groups.
Realizing the emerging challenges to the UN-led international system, China calls to abandon unilateralism and protectionism, support multilateralism and openness, to strive for win-win for all instead of a zero-sum game, and promote cooperation instead of confrontation. This vision can only be achieved if all the states are resolute to promote the mutual cause of fairness, justice, transparency, cooperation, values of peace and development. If all the states, big or small, work together to reach a common goal, the world can better build the community with a shared future for mankind.
In the end, President Xi calls on all the state members to join hands to create better conditions for human beings. As he quoted an old Chinese saying in his address, “Green hills immerse in the same cloud and rain. The same moon lights up towns however far away.”
In this context, China expects to improve global governance to help every state in the world and provide equal opportunities of growth to everyone. China is willing to go any extent forward in fulfilling its responsibilities for a better world. The only way forward is the multilateralism and commitment to taking right actions in the right direction.
The writer is President Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies.
