Kudos to China for 50 Years of joining the UN

China has contributed to international affairs, and global issues, especially raising voices for weaker and naïve nations. China stood for oppressed and condemned the aggressors, and opposes hegemony of any country or nation.

By Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan

People of Pakistan congratulate our Chinese brothers and sisters on the occasion of marking the 50 years of China joining the United Nations (UN). Recognizing the importance of China and the role of China in the UN, we praise and admire the contribution of China to the UN.

China has contributed to international affairs, and global issues, especially raising voices for weaker and naïve nations. China stood for oppressed and condemned the aggressors, and opposes hegemony of any country or nation.

China believes in equality and justice and respects the UN Charter. The Chinese approach of settling all disputes and differences through diplomatic and political channels through the UN platform is highly admired. The use of force, imposing wars, pressures, or coercion is always condemned by China and opposed at all levels.

United Nations was established on October 25, 1945 just after the end of World War II. The Countries, in alliance with America, were declared the winners and five countries got the permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as veto power.

United Nations was established on October 25, 1945 just after the end of World War II. The Countries, in alliance with America, were declared the winners and five countries got the permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as veto power.

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The Republic of China, the Nationalist Party was ruling China, became a member of the UNSC. Later, on October 1, 1949, the People’s Republic of China was established, but the seat at the UN was retained by the Republic of China or Taiwan till 1971. Because, in early days, the US and many countries in the West were not recognizing the People’s Republic of China and retaining diplomatic and formal relations with the Republic of China or Taiwan.

China gets legitimate status at UN

China kept on struggling to get its legitimate right to join the UN and gain a permanent seat at the UNSC. In the 1960s and early 1970s that the United States’ close ally, Pakistan, especially under the presidency of Ayub Khan, was carrying out messenger diplomacy to the PRC’s entry into the UN by the United States’ diplomacy to the People’s Republic of China in the time of Sino-Soviet split. This involved secret visits by United States officials to the PRC. In 1971, Henry Kissinger made a secret visit to the PRC through Pakistan.

China values Pakistan’s friendship and its role in bridging the Sino-US diplomatic relations. Pakistan was instrumental in bringing the US and China close to each other. Even, today, Pakistan possesses the potential to settle the differences between the US and China, if there exists a will from the US side. Finally, China was admitted into the UN in 1971 on the 21st time of voting on its application. It was admitted into the UN on a vote of 76 in favor, 35 opposed, and 17 abstentions.

It initiated a new era for China and opened unlimited avenues of cooperation, collaboration, and opportunities for China to interact with the global community and contribute toward geopolitics and the global economy.

President Xi’s remarks

President Xi Jinping attended and delivered 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 in Beijing on Monday. Here are some highlights;

• The restoration of all the rights of PRC in the UN 50 years ago is a victory of the Chinese people and the people from around the world
• The restoration of PRC’s seat in the UN is of significant, far-reaching importance

On China’s development and contributions

• The past five decades have witnessed China’s peaceful development and its commitment and dedication to the welfare of all humanity
• Chinese people have always safeguarded international fairness and justice and made major contributions to world peace and development
• Chinese people have always upheld the authority and sanctity of the United Nations and practiced multilateralism, and China’s cooperation with the UN has deepened steadily over the past 50 years
• China has blazed a path of human rights development that is consistent with the trend of the times and carries distinct Chinese features, thus making a major contribution to human rights progress in China and the international human rights cause

On multilateralism

• No civilization in the world is superior to others; every civilization is special and unique to its own region. Civilizations can achieve harmony only through communication and can make progress only through harmonization
• To build a community with a shared future for mankind is not to replace one system or civilization with another
• We shall be firm in opposing all forms of hegemony and power politics, as well as all forms of unilateralism and protectionism
• The international community is confronted by regional disputes as well as global issues such as terrorism, climate change, cybersecurity, and biosecurity. Only with more inclusive global governance, more effective multilateral mechanisms, and more active regional cooperation, can these issues be addressed effectively
• We should resolutely uphold the authority and standing of the UN, and work together to practice true multilateralism
• We need to encourage green recovery, green production, and green consumption and promote a civilized and healthy lifestyle
• The world should step up cooperation and work together to address the various challenges and global issues facing humanity
• Countries around the world should put their people front and center and strive to realize development with a higher level of quality, efficiency, equity, sustainability, and security

On China’s commitment

• China will stay committed to the path of peaceful development and always be a builder of world peace. China will remain committed to the path of reform and opening-up and always be a contributor to global development. China will stay committed to the path of multilateralism and always be a defender of the international order

Role of China and UN over the past 50 years

China is a responsible nation and understands its global responsibilities. China has already emerged as a global power and is in a better position to serve humanity at the global level. China’s role in the UN was significant and some of the highlights are as below:

Over the past 50 years, China has continued to contribute its strength to the cause of the UN. As the largest troop contributor among the permanent members of the UN Security Council, China has participated in 29 UN peacekeeping missions, sending a total of more than 50,000 personnel.

China is a responsible nation and understands its global responsibilities. China has already emerged as a global power and is in a better position to serve humanity at the global level.

As the largest developing country, China has actively supported the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development and achieved the poverty reduction target set in the 2030 Agenda 10 years ahead of schedule, lifting more than 70 percent of the world’s poor population out of poverty. In the face of the sudden outbreak of COVID-19, we launched the largest emergency humanitarian operation in the history of New China, fulfilling our commitment to make COVID-19 vaccines a global public good and supporting the relevant efforts of the UN.

Over the past 50 years, China has continued to contribute its strength to the cause of the UN. As the largest troop contributor among the permanent members of the UN Security Council, China has participated in 29 UN peacekeeping missions, sending a total of more than 50,000 personnel.

Standing at a new historical starting point, China will actively build a community with a shared future for mankind, and continue to do its best to participate in UN affairs, defend the status of the UN, and promote the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

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We will uphold the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, adhere to true multilateralism, and remain an advocate of world peace, a contributor to global development, defender of international order, and provider of public goods. We are ready to work with other countries to make new and greater contributions to peace and development for all mankind.

Standing at a new historical starting point, China will actively build a community with a shared future for mankind, and continue to do its best to participate in UN affairs, defend the status of the UN, and promote the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

China’s rapid developments and peace-loving nature has become a role model for the rest world and especially many developing countries are following or trying to follow the Chinese model as guidelines. Chinese approach may transform this world into a better place for the coming generations, where all nations will co-exist based on understanding, harmony, and equality. The world may turn into a safe place for all, where everyone is protected and can live without any fear from stronger.