Anniversary of restored seat at U.N. celebrated

China is expected to play a critical role in working with the rest of the world and the United Nations to bolster multilateralism and chart a path for growth in coming decades, officials and scholars say.

They underlined the need to do so while addressing a Vision China session hosted by China Daily. The event was held to mark the 50th anniversary, on Oct 25, of the restoration of China’s lawful seat at the U.N.

The participants, through video speeches, called the restoration an epoch-making event, and they summed up China’s philosophy on and approach to promoting peace and common prosperity.

To restore all rights to the People’s Republic of China, the U.N. General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758 by an overwhelming majority on Oct 25, 1971. Over the past 50 years China has been a contributor to global development and has promoted the settlement of disputes and conflicts through peaceful means.

Amina Mohammed, deputy secretary-general of the U.N., said, “I would like to take this opportunity to commend China for its support to the United Nations throughout the past five decades.

“We appreciate not only China’s steadfast financial support over the decades, which enables the entire U.N. system to support peace and development around the world, but (also) its support of the landmark reforms we are undertaking to strengthen the UN development system for the future.”

Wang Chao, president of the United Nations Association of China and president of the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs, said China has played an increasingly important role in U.N. affairs, along with other developing countries.

“The world now stands at a new historical starting point. Looking forward, China will continue to be a true follower of multilateralism,” he said.

Zhou Shuchun, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily, said: “The past half-century has witnessed a profound change of China’s status in the landscape of the world and, more importantly, testified to the country’s unique contribution to the advancement of humanity.

“As a symbol of China being an anchor of stability for the world today, the country sends the largest number of personnel of U.N. peacekeeping missions across the globe among the permanent members of the Security Council.”

The speakers also voiced their hopes about future China-U.N. collaboration.

Mohammed said that she expects China to “continue playing a pivotal role to reassert the value of multilateral collaboration so the United Nations is adequately equipped and ready to deliver on its mandates”.

The U.N. “counts on China” to stand behind its work in promoting climate action, defending global peace and helping fully deliver on the promise of the U.N.’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, she said.