Thirty-five years have passed since the People's Republic of
China's seat in the United Nations was restored on October 25,
1971. In this time the country has made accomplishments in six
areas.
First, China supports the United Nations playing a bigger role
in the world arena. China put forward the idea of a new
international economic order based on justice and reason in 1974.
In 1995, then president Jiang Zemin presented the concept of
building a better world in his address to the UN General Assembly.
In 2000, Jiang put forward the ideas of promoting peaceful
development and democracy in the international arena. In 2005,
President Hu Jintao put forward the idea of building a
harmonious world in his UN address.
Second, China advocates the maintenance of regional peace and
supports the plan of "land for peace" and political resolution of
the Iraq issue. It also pushes for the stability and prosperity of
Africa.
Third, China supports anti-terror campaigns, is opposed to the
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and advocates
increasing capacity to cope with non-traditional threats.
Fourth, China and the United Nations co-sponsored the Meeting on
Millennium Development Goals in March 2004. And an international
centre to eliminate poverty was set up in Beijing.
Fifth, China is increasingly involved in human rights
activities. It hosted the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995,
signed three international conventions against drugs, cross-border
crime and corruption, and joined 21 human rights conventions.
Sixth, China is committed to the reform of the United
Nations.
Before 1979, China's stance on the international system bordered
on defiance. It largely considered the United Nations a forum at
which it publicized its foreign policy, voiced support for the
Third World and stood up to the two superpowers while trying to win
over the Second World Western industrialized countries excluding
the United States.
In 1979, when China began to reform and open up, it shifted from
opposing the international system to participating in it. The
nation was not a member of any international organizations in 1966,
but by 1996 it had joined 80 percent of them.
Chinese diplomacy became increasingly active during this period
as the nation signed arms control agreements and sent 3,362
personnel to UN peace-keeping operations.
In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, China has
taken an active part in the international anti-terror campaigns,
participating in economic, political and security co-operation in
different regions. Together with Russia and other Central Asian
nations, China sponsored the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and
has promoted the six-party talks designed to settle the Korean
nuclear issue.
China also gained entry to the World Trade Organization in 2001
and will host major international events such as the 2008 Olympic
Games and the 2010 World Expo.
Premier Wen Jiabao affirmed that China is deeply
committed to safeguarding world peace and is a participant,
preserver and builder of the international system, during his
Australia visit in April this year.
President Hu Jintao, during his US visit in April, observed that China and
the United States are not only stakeholders but also partners in
constructive cooperation.
The profound changes in China's definition of its place in the
world are dictated by three basic factors, not by expediency.
National interest comes first. The country needs a favorable
international climate marked by lasting peace and stability to do
its own business well.
Second, the country's outlook on world affairs has undergone
profound change. Now China holds that maintaining world peace,
promoting mutual development and overall cooperation are the
primary tasks of all nations.
Third, China has had to re-evaluate its current international
system. For example, explaining how some big powers retain a
certain degree of privileges at the United Nations, which was
founded in the wake of World War II. China now interprets this as a
reflection of the contributions made by these nations in bringing
about victory over the axis countries.
The current economic order should be reformed in the context of the
severe economic imbalance between North and South, instead of being
replaced by a new order.
(China Daily December 23, 2006)
