Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: What has China brought to the world after 50 years of restoring the legitimate seat of the UN?

China News Service, Seoul, October 25 Title: What has China brought to the world after 50 years of restoring the legitimate seat of the United Nations? Interview with former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

China News Service reporter Liu Xu

On October 25, 1971, the 26th session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 2758 by an overwhelming majority, deciding to restore the legitimate seat of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations. Over the past 50 years, China has been deeply involved in the cause of the United Nations and has firmly supported the United Nations in playing a greater role in international affairs with practical actions.

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recently accepted an exclusive interview with China News Agency's "East and West Questions", expressing appreciation for China's deep participation in the cause of the United Nations over the past 50 years and full support for the United Nations in playing a central role in international affairs, and looking forward to China's ability to play a more important role on the world stage in the future.

The interview transcript is summarized below:

China News Service: This year marks the 50th anniversary of the People's Republic of China's restoration of its legitimate seat in the United Nations, what contributions do you think China has made in supporting the role of the United Nations in the past 50 years?

Ban Ki-moon: The restoration of the People's Republic of China to its legitimate seat in the United Nations is a landmark event in the history of the United Nations. After China regained its seat, the United Nations became a universal organization in both size and content.

China is a permanent member of the Security Council, and its Permanent Representative to the United Nations has been working hard to make the Security Council play a more effective role. Over the past 50 years, China has made significant contributions to the realization of the ideals of the United Nations:

As one of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, China has actively participated in the noble cause of peace and development in many parts of the world.

China has also contributed to the successful implementation of the Millennium Development Goals and the Sustainable Development Goals. The overarching goal of the Millennium Development Goals was to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, and China's achievements in that regard encouraged other developing countries.

China also plays a vital role in implementing the SDGs. President Xi Jinping's visit to the United Nations in 2015 demonstrated China's strong support for the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals. This is a huge impetus for the UN to advance the Sustainable Development Goals, and I remain grateful to President Xi for his strong support to the UN.

China's most important contribution is its strong commitment to combating climate change. China played a decisive role in the negotiation process of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. China's pledge to be carbon neutral by 2060 sends an encouraging signal to other countries.

China News Service: In the past 50 years, China's economic development has made remarkable achievements. What is the significance of China's development experience for the world? What are your expectations for China's future role on the world stage?

Ban Ki-moon: China has made remarkable progress in all areas of human life, especially in the economic field, and China has grown from a poor country to the second largest economy in the world. China's experience undeniably shows that open markets and free trade will be the most effective mode of economic development. At the same time, China's success is clearly inspiring other developing countries to learn from China's experience as they make progress in the economic and technological fields.

At the same time, China has been actively participating in global affairs, becoming one of the most influential participants in the world, and its influence in the economic, political, cultural and other fields has also grown rapidly. Therefore, the international community naturally expects China to play a more constructive and beneficial role in global affairs such as politics, social economy and human rights.

In addition, China also upholds the principle of multilateral cooperation in developing relations with other countries in the world. As a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of the international order and a provider of public goods, China advocates concepts that are consistent with the CHARTER of the United Nations. It is hoped that China will continue to work closely with the United Nations in the future to make the world a better, safer and more prosperous world.

China News Service: At present, the superposition of the century epidemic and the century-old changes have made the evolution of the international situation more complicated, and multilateralism has also been impacted. What role do you think China can play in improving the global governance system?

Ban Ki-moon: As we all know, we are facing serious challenges such as climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the most serious challenge in international affairs is the weakening of multilateralism.

Multilateral cooperation cannot be done by any one country alone, but requires the collective will and wisdom of all, as well as a sense of common purpose that the United Nations stands for. However, I am very disappointed by the weakening of multilateral cooperation in recent years, and I have to urge world leaders to be more active in nurturing multilateralism.

In this regard, the concept of "community with a shared future for mankind" proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping deserves attention. Humanity shares the same planet, the same future, and we need to work for common peace and prosperity. It is believed that China can use wisdom and patience to resolve differences with relevant countries while expanding its commonalities.

China News Service: Next year, China and the ROK will usher in the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, how do you evaluate China-ROK relations and what are your expectations for the future?

Ban Ki-moon: For 30 years, South Korea and China have been a model of mutual cooperation between neighboring countries. Confucius said, "Thirty and standing", at the age of 30, people should establish goals in life. The same is true for the country, and next year south Korea and China will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, and they should establish more mature relations in various fields such as politics and economic and social development.

Friendly relations between South Korea and China should be based not only on material reciprocity, but also on cultural commonalities. The two countries are geographically close, share thousands of years of history, and have a cultural heritage of love of peace and cooperation. In the next 30 years, we should be more active in promoting people-to-people exchanges, especially among young people, looking for common cultural backgrounds and expanding understanding between people. This will be conducive to permanent peace, stability and common prosperity in Northeast Asia, including the Korean Peninsula.

China News Service: Next February, the XXIV Winter Olympic Games will be held in China. Beijing will also be the first city to host the Summer and Winter Olympics. As Chairman of the Ethics Committee of the International Olympic Committee, what are your expectations for the Winter Olympics?

Ban Ki-moon: The Olympic Games are not only a sporting event, but also a solemn opportunity to jointly promote peace and solidarity among the peoples and nations of the world. When I was Secretary-General of the United Nations, the IOC was granted Permanent Observer status to the United Nations in 2009, and the United Nations and the IOC were able to share the ideal of peace through sport.

I look forward to participating in the Beijing Winter Olympics in my capacity as Chairman of the IOC Ethics Committee. I also firmly believe that the Chinese government and people will overcome the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 epidemic, successfully host the Beijing Winter Olympics, and promote world peace and harmony. (End)

Respondent Profiles:

Ban Ki-moon, a former foreign minister of the Republic of Korea, was elected as the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations at the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly on 13 October 2006. He is the first UN Secretary-General from East Asia and the second from Asia. On 21 June 2011, Ban Ki-moon was re-elected to the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly for a term until 31 December 2016. On September 14, 2017, at the 131st Plenary Session of the International Olympic Committee in Lima, Peru, Ban Ki-moon was elected Chairman of the Ethics Committee of the International Olympic Committee.

Source: China News Network