On the evening of October 25, 1971, the 26th Session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758 by an overwhelming majority of 76 votes in favor, 35 votes against and 17 abstentions, and decided to restore the legitimate seat of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations.
Suddenly, in the conference hall of the United Nations Headquarters on the banks of the East River in New York, thunderous applause and cheers rang out from all sides of the venue, like the waves of the sea, surging and enduring.
Salim Ahmed Salim, then Permanent Representative of Tanzania to the United Nations, dressed in a Zhongshan suit, could not help but dance cheerfully on the spot, which was a precious picture of the beginning of the cooperation between New China and the United Nations.
On October 25, 1971, the 26th session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted by an overwhelming majority a resolution restoring all the legitimate rights of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations. The picture shows that when the voting results appeared on the electronic billboard, the deputies warmly applauded and cheered. Xinhua News Agency
At the same moment when Salim danced for China, The Permanent Representative of Zambia to the United Nations, Vernon Mwanga, and the representatives of fraternal African countries could not help but hug and celebrate and share each other's heartfelt joy.
Mwanga, who served as Zambia's permanent representative to the United Nations from 1968 to 1972, has witnessed almost the whole process of China's restoration of its legitimate seat in the United Nations, which is "one of the greatest achievements of my life," he said in a recent interview with Xinhua News Agency.
On September 27, Mwanga, former Permanent Representative of Zambia to the United Nations, was interviewed by a Xinhua reporter in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Martin Mbangueta)
Mwanga told reporters that Zambia, Tanzania and other countries have repeatedly submitted proposals calling for the restoration of the legitimate seat of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations since the 1960s, but due to obstruction by the United States and other countries, the proposals have not been adopted.
It was not until 25 October 1971 that the General Assembly again voted on the proposal of the People's Republic of China on its legitimate rights at the United Nations.
"Before the vote, someone said it was late and there was a need to vote at another time. We said then, it's not too late, we want to vote now. Unsurprisingly, we won! The 77-year-old Mwanga recalls his excitement, "It was late at night, but the atmosphere was still very warm. The time has come for China. ”
This is an information photo from the 26th session of the United Nations General Assembly on 25 October 1971. Xinhua News Agency
This memory is also deeply preserved in Salim's heart. "It was a great moment of historic time for me, for Tanzania and for countries across Africa that have made great efforts to restore China's legitimate seat at the United Nations." Salim said.
On November 15, 1971, the Chinese delegation attended the United Nations General Assembly for the first time and was warmly welcomed by representatives of many countries. At that time, it was Mwanga, speaking on behalf of African countries, welcoming the Chinese delegation, "The atmosphere was very happy, it was a historic moment." ”
On November 15, 1971, after restoring its legitimate seat in the United Nations, the Chinese delegation attended the plenary session of the 26th session of the Un General Assembly for the first time and was "surrounded" by journalists from all over the world. Xinhua News Agency
In the years that followed, Mwanga's relationship with China grew stronger, and he visited China many times. "Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, China has developed into the world's second-largest economy in more than 50 years, which is a remarkable achievement." He said.
Mwanga believes that over the past 50 years, China has made outstanding contributions to safeguarding world peace, strengthening friendly cooperation among other countries, and promoting the cause of human progress, and has also played a constructive role in international organizations such as the World Trade Organization, the World Health Organization, and UNESCO.
On 17 July 2019, at the Super Camp in El Fasher, Sudan, Ms. Anita Chichi Gerbe, Deputy Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and African Union Joint Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), was awarded the order of officers and men of the second Chinese peacekeeping helicopter detachment to Darfur, Sudan. Xinhua News Agency
Mwanga, who served twice as Zambia's foreign minister, expressed special gratitude to China for lending its hand in helping to build the Tanzania-Zambia Railway in the 1960s and 1970s. He also expressed his appreciation for China's assistance to African countries in reducing poverty, improving health care and education conditions, and thanked China for the tremendous changes it has brought to African countries in infrastructure and agriculture under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
Mwanga said that China's provision of COVID-19 vaccines to Zambia and other African countries is a manifestation of the friendship between Zambia and Africa. "At present, the uneven distribution of COVID-19 vaccines is very obvious, and the vaccination rate in Africa is still very low. Thank you for China's continuous provision of COVID-19 vaccines to African countries, and thank you for china's continuous attention to Africa. ”
Source: Xinhua International Headlines