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)