International

Envoy looks forward to further China-UN teamwork

As part of evolving China-United Nations collaborations, the recent China visit by Csaba Korosi, president of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly, marks “a particularly auspicious beginning to the Year of the Rabbit”, the UN’s top envoy in China Siddharth Chatterjee said.

Chatterjee, UN development system resident coordinator in China, said that Korosi “was very encouraged by China’s readiness to cooperate on the issues he raised, particularly advancing multilateralism, the General Assembly processes and UN reforms, as well as the upcoming UN 2023 Water Conference in March” when meeting with senior Chinese officials.

Korosi visited Beijing and Zhengzhou, Henan province, from Wednesday through Saturday. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, along with the water conference scheduled next month, were high on his agenda.

“The meetings got off to an excellent start, and I am grateful to the government of China for the hospitality, generosity and courtesy extended to Mr Korosi,” Chatterjee said in an exclusive interview.

Envisioning the potential highlights of the cooperation framework between China and the UN this year, Chatterjee mentioned three pillars, all starting with the letter “p” — “people and prosperity”, “planet” and “partnership”.

Emphasizing the need to safeguard China’s major achievement of lifting more than 770 million people out of abject poverty over the past 40 years, the envoy said the UN is committed to supporting China in its 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) in order to “reduce inequalities between urban and rural areas”.

Supporting President Xi Jinping’s vision for the country to achieve carbon peak before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060, Chatterjee said, “We can build more alliances of businesses to come together in the drive toward low-carbon economic growth. Public-private partnerships will be critical, and China can serve as a model for the rest of the world.”

He endorsed China’s partnerships with the African Union and African countries, saying that “the UN can act as a platform to help bring all of this together”. A lot of progress, particularly in 2022, has been made in areas such as climate change, food security, industrialization and low-carbon economic growth, he added.

Speaking on global challenges, Chatterjee highlighted the COVID-19 pandemic, rising conflicts, the climate crisis and growing inequalities. He said that China “has done very well from a public health perspective in managing its COVID-19 response”, and that he “equally commends China on opening up the economy”.

“China has passed the long winter of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we’re in a year of hope. I think the Year of the Rabbit is a beacon of hope,” he said.

Chatterjee thanked the Chinese government once again for its push for multilateralism. “China has become a very strong supporter of the UN global budget as well as the UN peacekeeping budget,” he said.

“Multilateralism must be reinforced, otherwise rising conflicts, the climate crisis, pandemics will not be stopped. … We need more cooperation, more diplomacy, rather than confrontation and competition,” he added.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of President Xi proposing the Belt and Road Initiative.

“I see the BRI as one of the most important initiatives that China took,” Chatterjee said, referring to transportation facilities China has helped build in Africa. He has worked as UN resident coordinator in Kenya.

“The African Continental Free Trade Area will not be possible unless Africa is physically and digitally connected. With a population expected to reach 2.5 billion, Africa will be the driver of future economic growth and prosperity in the world,” he said.

“I hope the year 2023 becomes a turning point, where we will see more collaborations between member states and between companies to advance the BRI into a bigger ambition of really connecting the whole world,” he added. (PR)

International

CHINA CELEBRATES ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY

China marks National Day with light shows, #fireworks, drone displays #PRC75Years

Fireworks illuminate the sky in Macao, south China on Oct. 1, 2024. Various events and activities were held to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

*Tourists visit the Senado Square in Macao, south China*

International

Wang Yi calls on Global South to jointly advance peace and development

Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, on Wednesday called on the Global South to work actively and contribute to building a world of lasting peace and universal security.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks at a dialogue session between high-ranking officials responsible for security matters and national security advisors from BRICS and Global South countries in the Russian city of St. Petersburg.

Noting the international security situation is becoming increasingly complex with fierce geopolitical competition and emerging hotspot issues, Wang said the aspiration of people of all countries for peace and security has become stronger and the call for unity and cooperation has become more urgent.

Global peace and development cannot be achieved without the support and participation of all progressive forces, Wang added.

Gaining momentum in the new century, Wang said, the Global South should stand ahead and make positive contributions to building a world of lasting peace and universal security in the face of a turbulent and interwoven world.

Wang called on the Global South countries to adhere to dialogue and cooperation and share the development opportunities and fruits to safeguard their legitimate rights and interests, realize common prosperity and gain a greater voice in the international arena.

Wang said, being an ex-officio member of the Global South, China has always stood firm with southern countries to jointly safeguard international fairness and justice and promote world peace and development.

BRICS countries and the Global South share a natural emotional bond and extensive common interests, Wang noted, and China supports BRICS in pursuing development with an open door and promoting cooperation with open arms.

China welcomes more like-minded Global South countries to join the BRICS family and work together as a force for stability and peace, a backbone for open development, a force for global governance and a force for mutual learning among civilizations, so as to build a community with a shared future for mankind, Wang added.

Caption: Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, attends a dialogue session between high-ranking officials responsible for security matters and national security advisors from BRICS and Global South countries in St. Petersburg, Russia, September 11, 2024.

International

The Authority of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 Cannot Be Challenged

Article by H. E. YanXiusheng, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Barbados

The 79th United Nations General Assembly opened on September 10 in New York. At present, there are still a handful forces that have been deliberately distorting and challenging UNGA Resolution 2758 adopted in 1971, trumpeting the notion that Taiwan’s status is undetermined, and advocating support for Taiwan’s participation in UN meetings and activities, in an attempt to challenge the international community’s consensus on the one-China principle. I believe that such actions, which go against the tide of history, will undoubtedly end in failure.

On October 25, 1971, the 26th UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758 by an overwhelming majority, deciding to “restore all its rights to the People’s Republic of China and to recognize the representatives of its Government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations, and to expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all the organizations related to it”. The Resolution resolved once and for all politically, legally and procedurally the issue of the representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan, at the United Nations. The resolution also made clear that there can only be one seat representing China at the UN and precluded the possibility of “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan.”

UNGA Resolution 2758 is based on historical facts and has a legal basis. Taiwan has been part of China since ancient times. Before the adoption of Resolution 2758, it was already a historical fact and an international consensus that Taiwan is part of China. This was a significant political precondition for the UN General Assembly to adopt Resolution 2758. The 1943 Cairo Declaration and the 1945 Potsdam Proclamation clearly stipulated that Taiwan, a Chinese territory stolen by Japan, shall be restored to China. These documents with international legal effect formed an integral part of the post-WWII international order and also established the legal foundation of Taiwan’s status as China’s inalienable territory.

The one-China principle adopted by UNGA Resolution 2758 is a widely accepted international consensus. For over half a century since the resolution’s adoption, the UN system has always observed Resolution 2758 and upheld the one-China principle in dealing with Taiwan-related issues. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly reaffirmed that the UN’s position is very clear, which is to observe the Resolution and uphold the one-China principle, and that all UN actions are based on this. To date, 183 countries, representing over 93% of UN member states, have established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle. These facts fully demonstrate that the one-China principle reflects the will of the people and represents the trend of the times and the course of history.

Barbados is one of the earliest countries in the eastern Caribbean to establish diplomatic relations with China, and is also a good friend and partner of China in the region. Over the past 47 years, the bilateral relations have steadily advanced based on the one-China principle, mutual respect, and mutual benefit. China highly appreciates Barbados’ firm adherence to the one-China principle and is willing to work with Barbados to continue implementing the important consensus reached by the leaders of our two countries, deepen political mutual trust, strengthen cooperation in various fields, continue to understand and support each other on issues concerning our core interests and major concerns, constantly expand and enrich the friendly relations between our two countries, and build a closer China-Barbados community with a shared future.